Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-22
The CAMPAIGN FOR
SUFFRAGE IN VERMONT
Chairman of Ratification Fulfills
Promise to Tell People of State
of the Impracticable COndi-
tiors Under Which Governor
Would Summon Legislature

Mrs. Lillian H. Olzendam. chairman OF
ratification for Vermont gave the Free
Press yesterday a statement Of the con-
dftion under which Gov. Percival W.
Clement agreed to call a special session
of the Legislature. for action on the fed
eral suffrage amendment. Yesterdays
action by Mrs. Olzendam is in fulfillment
of her promise. made ssveral months ago.
that when the proper time came the
people ofSNermont would be made
acquainted with this phase of a some
what remarkable campaign.
On March q Mrs. Olzendam had a per-
sonal infnrview with Governor Clement
at his home in Montpelier. on that
occasion the Governor and the chairman
of ratification engaged in a discussion OF
the Governors views on the legality or
the Vermont Legislature acting on the
federal suffrage amendment. the Governor
at that time holding his view of uncon-
stitutionality of the amendment The
same contention was made by him then
that forms the base Of his refusal now
to call the Legislature into session TO
ratify. Mrs. Olzendam held, as the suf-
fragists have all the time, and as the
United States Supreme Court finally held.
that the federal suffrage amendment
could not go to a state referendum. This
point the Governor disputed then. as he
disputes It now.
GIVES OUT INTERVIEW
Talking with n Free Press representative
yesterday, Mrs. Olzendam said
IT have decided to make public my in
terview with the Governor. which was
one Of many. in order that the people
may know what took place at that time.
and which has been KEEP secret up to now.
asked the Governor If he had con-
suited the attorney general on the cues
ton Of whether our Legislature could
legally ratify, and he evaded giving a
direct answer. but Indicated that he
would ask the encouragement when the
! latter should next he in Montpelier, but
| that he felt that he the Governor) was
right. whoever thought differently"
GOVERNOR MAKES CONDITION FOE
CALLING SESSION
II then asked the Governor" said Mrs
| Olzendam. 'if there was anyone whose
! opinion he would accept relative to the
| point in question. and he said there was
| that IL I would get an opinion from tho
Vermont Supreme Court favorable to thu
| suffragists. he would call the extra SEES
sion of the LEGISLATURE
GOVERNOR REPEATS CONDITION
NEXT DAY
| wishing to be sure. I again visited thu
| Governor in the executive chamber tn
next morning" continued the chairman
| Of ratification. land asked him again T.
state the condition. This he did in TIL
hearing Of the secretary of civil ant
military affairs. Get favorable opinion
from the Supreme Court said MI
Clement. and I will call the session
Immediately wrote the justices of tn
Supreme Court. telling them what MI
Clement has said. and have on file m
letters to them and replies received.
came back to Burlington and consulte
our lawyer and learned, what | ha
believed before. that the condition wa
an impossible one. and that only in tn
event Of a test case getting before tn
court could a decision from that body b
obtained
GIVES OUT STORY THAT CONDITION
HAD BEEN MADE
II gave out to the press that the Gov
ernor had made a condition upon tn
fulfilling Of which he would call the ses
sion" said Mrs. Olzendam, but fearin
that in the event that a case should b
made full publicity az to the matter a
that time might prove prejudicial to on
cause. | felt that 1t was better not
make the condition public 1t has nc
been given out UP to this time, but wher
later. my attention was called to an inter
view with Mr.. Clement in one of the Ne,
York papers, IL recall it correctly,
which he denied that he had ever mad
: any condition whatever for calling tn
r special session, I decided that when tn
proper time came l would give out th
little story. that is" she added. "if
came about that he failed to call tn
session under any circumstances. TheI
too. in the light of Governor Clement
refusal and the reasons he has given,
think the people OF Vermont would
happy to know that while Mr.. Clemer
denies the right Of the Supreme Coul
of the United States to decide a cor
stitutional question for Vermont. our ow
Supreme Court can do so. at least NJ
Clement held That view at that time.
the light of later events IT appears tn;
no court, even the highest, can take an
n part in deciding such questions for We
mont alone Of all the States. feel TIL;
Mr.. Clements denial Of the condition
3 have told about Is superfuous and. SHOW
u that his principles are rather chang