The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-08-21

Especial Despatch to The Reformer Copy
right 1920
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.-Assuming
the ratification of the suffrage amend
rlcat by Tennessee OF other states, there
arc some legal Obstacles that must be
overcome before women everywhere
III be permitted to vote in the presl-
dental cleo: ions this year.
I While the woman leaders do not anti
cipatc much difficulty and believe that
the public official who dares to prevent
women from voting this time is merely
comm ttime political suicide, nevertheless
Lit IS possible for reluctant state officials
with Ia grudge against woman suffrage
to manipulate matters in such way as
to prevent the qualification of woman
voters this year.
I The 10Th amendment to the constitu-
ton merely declares that women shall
h have the right to vote but another arti-
cle in the constitution gives to the states
lac full right to determine the qualifiea
: items of voters. Anticipating just such
i trouble, the national woman's party
made canvass of all states where il
seemed as if special legislation were nee
cssary to enable women 10 vote this
year if the federal amendment were rat
flied Minnesota, North Dakota, Mis-
souri,, Massachusetts,, Virginia and Maine
passed such legislation at the same time
that their legislatures were in special ses
sion to ratify the federal amendment
Georgia, Rhode Island and West Nir
ginia have not done so though in two in
stances the day for registering voters ha'
already passed. Florida, Vermont anc
Connecticut have had no sessions Of
their respective legislatures so nothing
could be done in the way of enabling
legislation. On the other hand, it i
fully expected that the governors of Tho
last three states now will call specia
sessions to permit women to qualifyi as
voters. soa
! The question has been a difficult one
to determine for in most cases when the
National Woman's party has appealed t.
the attorney generals of the severa
, states for a ruling, these officials have
been reluctant to say what their opn
ion would be. Usually they did not
iwant to interfere in the suffrage contro
versy because of the division of senti
ment among party leaders. Now, how
ever tire question is no longer hypothet
zeal and the attorney. generals will b.
forced to render a final judgment. If j
, is adverse, all the pressure which tn.
women can exert will be applied to Oh
. tain special sessions of the legislature
even in midsummer in order to PERM
the enrolment of women voters TIL
leaders have in each case been asking fo
simple piece of legislation to the effec
that the same rules shall apply to tn,
new women voters as cover the mall
\ voters who reach the age of 81. Usual,
evidence of residence in the state ant
citizenship is all that is required
The southern states present an inter
cs, " nhase of the question for Will
very little is said about Il at suffrag
Headquarters here, no one believes tn
southern states will permit Negro wo
/ linen tn vote any more than they IL
men. The usual obstacles such as tn
payment of poll tax and educationa
Qualifications are expected to be used
In fact, the suffrage workers used Il
tall the southern legislators that thei
fears of woman suffrage were bound t,
prove groundless because of this yer,
power to determine the qualifications .
voters which lies in the hands of th
several states
Although Tennessee's verdict has re
manned in doubt for the last two day
end the women leaders have exhibite,
considerable nervousness about the nros
rect Of a reconsideration by the Ten
ncssee LEGISLATURE of her vote of Wednes
day. all hone was bv no means consid
! ored zone if the ratification hy Tennes
90 did not materialize. Florida wa
| elected as the next battle ground II