Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-02
Circulation Every 1AAO7
Evening Yesterday l44UI
An Inspiring and Wholesome Proceeding

anti-Suffrage, and without reference
ever to the justice or injustice of the de-
feat of the Suffrage Amendment to the
Federal Constitution by the House of
Representatives at Dover, yesterday
afternoon, it can with truth be said that
the action taken, and the reasons therefor,
afforded the most wholesome and in
spring incident of legislative procedure
ever known in our State. The entire affair,
from the opening of the contest on the
first day of the special session to the final
roll-call, was an illustration of the power
of public sentiment and of the determina-
tion of representatives of the people to
respect that sentiment and carry it into
effect, regardless of all other influence or
considerations.
Political expediency, frequently all
powerful in such matters, impelled mem
bers of the Legislature of both political
parties to support ratification of the
Equal Suffrage Amendment. To this end
the strongest political pressure, from with
in the State and from outside States, was
brought to bear upon all the members of
the Legislature. Never before in all the
history of the State was there such an
extraordinary extent of political and per-
sonal persuasion towards the accomplish
ment of common purpose. 1t seems
amazing, now that it is all over, that so
many members were able to find the moral
strength to resist it.
But public sentiment, brought to bear
directly and forcefully upon a certain
purpose and righteously expressed, also is.
potent. 1t is an influence that is powerful
because it represents truth and justice.
The people of community have right
to demand of their representative in the
Legislature that he represent them truly
upon all important issues. 1t was ap-
parent to all that public sentiment in Kent
and Sussex counties, and in parts of VIII
mington and New Castle county. was
firmly opposed to Equal Suffrage. Those
members who resisted the opportunities
of Suffrage advocates did so because they
knew the people they represented de-
manded it Of them. And those who
their constituents. The division, there
fore. was not by reason of any partisan
or personal pressure, but Of the fact that
those who differed did so because their
constituencies differed, and there was a
greater amount of opposition among the
people of the States representative dis
tricts than there was favor. The verdict
therefore, was righteous one, because it
truly represented the majority sentiment
Of the State.
And so it was that the action of those
members who, impelled by the COM
mendable purpose of truly representing
those who elected them In respect of
very important public question was most
inspiring. They had to stand out against
influences powerful and most insidious.
Some of them maintained their stand in
the face of partisan considerations which
ordinarily they would gladly give heed to.
But behind them stood their people, solid
and immovable, uninfuenced by partisan
or political considerations, and asking only
that they be truly represented. They were
truly represented, by men who had the
frmness to resist the most appealing in
fuences that could be brought to bear
upon them, and which fought for a cause
that has secured the approval of the people
Of many other States, in some of them by
most emphatic verdicts at the ballot-box
But the people of Delaware were not in
favor of the cause, and their representa- |
tives truly voiced their will by their votes |
in the Legislature This is the element |
which stands out most conspicuously and /
most commercially in the record of this |
memorable contest at Dover.
There is talk of renewed efforts by /
Suffrage workers to endeavor to secure a /
favorable verdict, despite the setback they
received yesterday. We hope the "sober
second thought" will induce them to
abandon this purpose, if it is entertained. |
Further agitation would only prove dis
turbing and delaying factor in "a session
which from now on will have to give con-
slderation to public business of very
importantcharacter. This business should
receive careful and undistracted attention.
There will be another session of the Legis-
lature, next winter, preceded by an
election of members who may easily be
impressed with the public sentiment in
respect of votes for women that prevails
In their respective districts. That will be
the proper time for renewing the Suffrage
battle. For the remainder of the present
session it should be accepted as a closed
incident.
Arcade iha saoplo of Dalaxvsro ara |