Newark post., 1920-03-24
LEGISLATURE. TO
HEAR ARGUMENTS
FOR AND AGAINST
RATIFICATION

Fof\ AMI AIAllNS
RATIFICATION
Continued from page y
The Governors Message
The text of the Governors mes
sage follows:
TO the Members of the General AS
sembly-
Under authority granted by the
Constitution, the General Assembly
has been called to consider problems,
which, in my judgment, are. of serious
moment.
Washington Street Bridge.
The Act of the last General Assem-
bly, providing a bond issue to erect a
bridge over the Brandywine in the
City of Wilmington was found, due to
increased costs of construction, to be
insufficient. The Commission, thus
unable to carry out the provisions of
the Act requested the Governor to call
Special Session OF the General As
sembly in order that authority might
be given to provide for necessary in
crease of the Bond Issde. But through
the courtesy of Mr.. A. l. dupont, a
member of the Commission, the emer-
gency was provided for by the as
sumption of any financial obligations
necessary, until the meeting of the
General Assembly.
Therefore, while in session, would
suggest that the request of the Com
mission be considered and provisions
be made to care properly for the needs
Of this projected improvement.
Woman Suffrage.
The proposed amendment to the
Federal Constitution, passed by Con-
gress is presented for your considera.
tion.
"Resolved by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress As
sembled (two-thirds of each House
concurring therein), That the follow
ing article is proposed as an Amend
ment to the Constitution, which shall
be valid to all intents and purposes as
part of the Constitution when ratified
by the legislatures of three-follrths
of the several States.
The right of citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by
any State on account of SEX"
Woman's Suffrage has oeen a sub
ject of public discussion for over
half century. It is not an agitation of
the moment.
The right of equal franchise has
been granted and exercised with sue
cess in several states for years. 1t is
not theory or untried experiment.
No amendment to the Federal Con-
stitution has been so long discussed.
The resolution passed by Congress
was the result of long deliberation.
The action was not due to the excite
ment of the hour.
Thirty-four out of forty-eight
States have expressed approval by
ratification. 1t is not an expression
of local or sectional view. 1t repre-
sents national trend of thought,
founded on deliberate thought and
successful experience.
(The question is not one of political
expediency but an Interpretation OF
social justice. 1t is the world OLD
question Of right and wrong.
If expediency be considered, how
ever, we reflect on womanhood if we
refuse her right to express practically
by ballot what she now influences by
mere persuasion.
Her activities in recent years, in
peace and war, have been varied and
many. In none has her work been
otherwise than for upbuilding the con-
dition of home and society and uplift-
ing the lives and hopes of men.
The vote to her is not only a right,
to afford an extended anc more prac-
tical opportunity for influence. 1t is
responsibility which the serious and
thoughtful cannot shirk. If she would
enjoy the privileges granted her iii
society, in the business and profess
sional world with the rights and con-
sideration in wage and working hours.
then she must expect, and the state
has right to ask, that she bear her
proportionate share of the obligations
attending. State and Society look
with confidence for her practical par
ticipation as well as for her advice
and counsel.
Those who would withhold fran
chise today are descendants in thought
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