Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-02

Vermont relative to the State end presidential
from exhaustive study of the case
mont women in general can vote the terms
for all officers national State legislative subject
same qualifications and restrictions men,
The situation differs entirely from that resulting from
ratification of the national prohibition amendment There
no legislation the national State providing
for the enforcement of national prohibition Legislation
absolutely to carry out the details Of
different Every State has laws dealing with regulations for
amendment prohibits the States from making any discrn
ination against woman voters on account of sex.
, The nineteenth amendment, which is now part of the
United States, reads as follows
1.-The rights of citizens of the United States shall
Of SEX The second section of the amendment
that Congress shall have power by appropriate egla
The Free Press has conerded all along that
the federal amendment would be to make all existing egsa
less of sex.
Former Associate Justice Charles E. Hughes of the ST.
Court of the United States has declared that
the federal suffrage amendment ratified by the required
number of Of the States would become
the Constitution of the United States consequently the
supreme the Having once ratified the amendment
no ssa s 1% any other sss
stated that a. cambridge Colby secretary of State of the
has become valid to all ntents and purposes part
Constitution of the United States"
taon the effect the federal suffrage amendment The
decision of the Supreme Court of the United States the
edy form the basis of future relative to the right of
woman suffrage
ment to the Constitution of the United States became eec
tive the secretary having then issued his proama
tion in Washington That amendment gave to negroes the
right of suffrage.
The Constitution of 1888 then in effect in Pennsy
decision the of Neal Delaware held in effect that
the adoption of the fifteenth amendment eliminated the word
white 1t held that the Pennsylvania State Constitu
ton then should every freeman the
qualifications should be entitled VOTE Strangely enough
the Ohio Constitution still reads that must be white
males but the federal Constitution rules in Ohio elsewhere
BY analogy is held by competent urists though
officially that the word male automatically drops from
State constitutions wherever this discrimination remains 1t
to be borne mind however that thirty States have
already granted women the right of presidential suffrage
that they will vote the coming November matter what may
be the outcome of any contest federal suffrage
Having summarized the general situation are pre-
pared to consider the individual situation in Vermont At the
prescribes the qualifications of freemen as follows:
Every man of the full age of wentyone years who is
or mas been narazed agreeaby to the Acts of Congress-
having resided in this State for the space whole year
quiet and peaceful behavior and will take the following oath
OF animation shall be entitled to all the privileges of free
"You soemny Cor affirm that whenever you give
your vote or touching any matter that the
Judge will most conduce to the best good same as
established the Constitution without fear any
man." '
If the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States
IN the case of Neal Delaware applies to the present stua
stutlon would be interpreted in the broad
OF the term regardless of This being the situation then
all legislation relating to the right Of suffrage by would
apply 10 women as well as to men.
The Constitution of Vermont provides for reemens
ives Justices of the peace The of Vermont in order
vote tor these officers November take the freeman
oath required and comply with the requirements stated
the same as men, Where registration of male
CURED 1t follows that also have their names
placed on the voting lists by the board of civil authority
take 1T that men Of Vermont constituting will
every endeavor to that full opportunity is afforded for
this purpose and extra pains taken to aid the
ing their duties of citizenship.
AS regards the ELECTION of presidential electors the Con-
slon OF the United States provides that Each State shall
appoint such the Legislature thereof may direct
number of electors equal to the whole number of
he pnttlo in
Congress-" "
The Vermont Legislature has provided that presidential
electors shall be elected by the reemen of the State the
State officers named Section General
Laws of Vermont provides that m the election of
president and vcepresident of the United notice
shall be posted warning the freemen in each herein
before provided meet and vote for the number of electors
TO which the State is entitled and such election shall held
and the for such electors taken and
for the State officers, and list of the the persons
voting shall be kept by the town clerk"
the ASSUMPTION regarding the effect of earlier decisions
of the Supreme Court Of the United States correct then
the of Vermont will have the right vote for
president and less. In other words there
be in neither direction denial abrdgng the right
vote account of