Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-08
SUFFRAGE WORRIES
G. 0.-P. LEADERS
In a Scramble to Beat Democrats
in Enfranchising Women of
the Country.
Special Dispatch From Every Evening 9
Washington Correspondent

Special Dispatch From Every Evening
Washington Correspondent
Washington, July S.-The Republicans
are becoming deeply worried over the
woman suffrage situation. They arc
plainly afraid the Democrats will gct the
bulk of the woman vote in November by
furnishing the thirty-sixth State to ratify
the woman suffrage amendment. IL now
appears to be race between the Re
publcans and Democrats to turn the
trick that will permit the women to vote
for the Presidential tickets In November
Since the Republican leaders have
grasped the full significance of Governor
Roberts action in calling the Tennessee
Legislature into session August o. to
ratify the suffrage amendment and have
begun to realize the great political adj
vantage that will accrue to the Demo
Gratis IL the Tennessee Democratic Legs
lature furnishes the necessary ratification,
they are casting about for way to have "A
Republican Legislature furnish tho single
ratification needed to allow the women TO
vote.
The coming of Governor Pereival W.
Clement Of Vermont to Washington today
for n conference with Senator Harding at
the latter's invitation, indicates that the
Republican Presidential nominee has com
pIctely reversed the stand he took ten
days ago on woman suffrage and ia now
using his efforts TO have his party furnish
the vote needed TO assure women the night
to vote.
DID HARDING BLuNpERf
When a committee of prominent wo-
man suffrage workers called on Senator
Harding here a few days after his nomIna-
tIon To enlist his aid for their cause, be
told them fatty that he would not urge
the Legislatures of Vermont, Connecticutt
or any other State to ratify the amend
ment, although he hoped the women
would obtain the single ratification needed.
Chairman VIII H. HAYS of the Repub-
hcan National Committee and others
among Hardings advisers were quick TO
note tho political blundcr their Prcslden-
tial candidate had made and now have
him diligently AZ work 10 correct hls
mistake.
Vermont was chosen by the Repub-
l,oans directing the Presidential campaign
as the State whose Legislature would more
readily ratify than Connecticut or any
other available State. Governor iiol-
combe Of Connecticut, backed by Sena-
tor Frank Brandegec, has withstood all
efforts to have him call the state bcgisla-
turo into session 10 pass on woman sui
fraee. Brandegre is the strongest man IN
Connecticutt politics He comes up for re-
election this fall. lie has rlIthloSsly OPP
posed woman suffrage and refused 20 even
give the women a respectful hearing. The
women have sworn vengeance on Brande-
gee and will leave no stone unturned, no
dollar unspent and no word unu, tered TO
beat him for reelection If they can get the
vote in Connecticut in November.
Governor Holcombe rs opposed TO
woman suffrage and cannot call the Legs
lature to consider it without seriously
endangrrlng the chances OF reelection OF
Brandegec. the States boss As
Brandegee is one of Hardngs closest adj
visers, il is plain that the Presidential
candidate would approach Governor Ciem-
ent TO call the Vermont Legislature 10
weld the needed vote IN preference TO
dabbllng in Brandegec's State.
VERMONT rHB ONLY HOPE.
To Weld tho needed vote by Repub
Iican Legislature the Vermont Icgisla-
ture must act quickly because Tennessee
is expected TO ratify shortly after meeting
on August 2.
But Florida may vet yield for the Demo
Gratis the needed ratification before Yer
mont can act. even II unprecedented
speed should he used by Governor Glenn
cnt 20 have Vermont beat Tennessee TO
the wire.
Governor Sidney Cats OF Florida is an
ardent woman suffrage advocate and can
be depended upon, il is believed, to call
the Florida Legislature INTO session over
night. If il becomes necessary to do So, IN
order TO forestall the Republicans in Yer
mont.
The Florida Legislature has not been
canvassed, but party Of women suffrage
leaders have left for Florida to sound out
the legislators to see If the amendment
can be ratified if presented. Senators
Fletcher and Trammell of Florida voted
against the amendment IN the Senate; so
did three of the four Representatives, IN
the House. But Congressman Smlthwick
of Pensacola, the single Florida Congress
man who voted for woman suffrage In the
HOUSE, was renominated three weeks ago
by big lead over two opponents, who
used his vote for suffrage as a campaign
argument against him This makes il
appear that Florida is veerIng towards
equal suffrage.
If the woman suffrage amendment Is
ratified by the thirty-sixth State before
November, about 2O,0O0,OO0 women will
be eligible to yote-uulte too many to be