The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-03-01
WILL NOT CALL
LEGISLATURE IN
SPECIAL sEsS|6n
For Ratification of National Suf-
frage Amendment
GOV. CLEMENTS POSITION
Chief Executive Insists Such Action
Should be Referred to Voters
Of Vermont
GOV. CLEMENTS POSITION

Rutland. March. 1.-Basing his act
lon on the same grounds as those
which dictated his former disapproval
of the woman suffrage bill, Governor
Perviyal w. Clement has refused to
call special session oil he Legis a.
ture for the purpose of ratifying the
suffrage amendment.
The letter covering the subject is
addressed to Col. ]. E. Piddock, chair
man, and Coll MS NJ. G. aves, secretary,
Of the republican state committee. The
Governor refers briefly to the action
of the state committee as good polit-
deal propaganda" but says that his
view is that the constitution of the
state of Vermont clearly contemplates
that such changes as the suffrage
amendment provides for should be re-
ferred to the voters for action.
Hiding behind the theory that the
proposed fede. al amendment does in
fact tend to alter and infringe the
state constitution in respect to suff-
rage and constitutes practical amend
ment thereof" he declines to call the
Legislature into session.
The letter to the state committee
reads as follows:
The Governors Letter.
February 27, 1920.
John E. Piddock, Chairman and Col
Inns NJ Graves, Secretary, Republi
can State Committee.
Dear Sirs:
II am in receipt of your telegram
which reads as follows:
THE Republican State Committee
in meeting held at Burlington today
passed the following resolutions which
we were instructed to send to you
:. Resolved that the Vermont State
Republican Committee are of the unan-
imous opinion, in view of the declara-
tions of both the Republican and
Democratic National organizations, in
favor of the tight of suffrage for wom-
en-: and in yiew of the widespread
recognition of the merits of this meas
ure Of political justice, that Governor
Clement should promptly call the Yer
mont Legislature in extra session for
the purpose of ratifying the proposed
amendment to the Federal Constitu-
tion, providing therefor We hold
that the women OF Vermont are enti-
tied to same recognition and rights OF
citizenship as are the women of other
states, particularly In view of the glo-
rious part taken by them in manifold
war activities, and the splendid sacri-
fices made by the motherhood and the
womanhood of Vermont in connection
with the World war We are ful ther
OF the opinion that the Legislature
should be requested to consider no
general legislation at the extra ses-
sion, beyond the ratification of the pro-
posed amendment.
Resolved that copy of these res
olutions be forwarded to Governor
Clement for his official action
Your reasons for requesting me to
promptly call the Vermont Legisla-
ture in extra session for the purpose
of ratifying the proposed amendment
to the Federal Constitution may be
good political propaganda; and if SO,
the resolution which you have adopted
will adequately serve such purpose.
Your telegram contemplates imme-
diate ratification by Legislature with
out referring 1t to the people. But
your reasons do not seem to me to be
such as under the circumstances
would warrant the calling of the Leg
islature together at this time.
while it is within the province of
the Legislature to pass upon proposals
of amendments to the Federal Consti-
tuition, nevertheless, when such pro-
posed amendment radically changes
our State Constitution, action upon
the same should follow, so far as pos
sible, the method provided for amend
ments to the State Constitution, and
such a proposed amendment to the
Federal Constitut on ought not to be
passed upon by Legislature until
the people of the state have register
ed their desire respecting 1t.
Section 6, Chapter II of the consti-
tuition of Vermont p. ovides in part;
They (the Legislature) may pre-
pare bills and enact them into laws,
redress grievances, grant charters of
incorporation. subject to the provi-
sions of Section 65, constitute towns,
boroughs, cities and counties; and
they shall have all other powers neces-
sary for the Legislature Of free and
sovereign state; but they shall have
no power to add to, alter, abolish, or
infringe any part Of this Constitution
"That the proposed Federal amend
ment does in fact tend to alter and in
fringe the state constitution in re-
spect to suffrage, and constitutes a
practical amendment thereof, cannot
be denied.
"You will doubtless have in mind
that commission was recently ap-
pointed to propose amendments to the
Vermont Constitution, and undoubt-
edly some proposal with respect to
woman suffrage will be presented to
its report to the next Legislature. If
that Legislature sees fits to submit an
amendment to the constitution, giving
suffrage to women, the people of the