Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-26
SITUATION SHOWS
NO SIGNS OF CHANGE
ONE WAY OR OTHER
Signers of the Round kooln
Defeat Pledge in the House
Still Solid.
POLITICAL PRESSURE
WILL BE CONTINUED
Special Dispa tch From staff Cores pondent
m NfAprxr

Special Dispatch From staff Cores pondent
STATE HousE. Dover, MARCH %.
Hoping that something would hap
non before night both sides of the sui
TRACE battle were we'll represented here
,oday. In. addition to the local anti
lorccs. a Wilmington delegation came
losn. headed by the State chairman,
Mrs Henry B. Thompson; Most OF the
,uffragc leaders remained over night,
and as the legislators began To arrive
today. both camps got busy with mis-
sionary work.
N the opening Of the session, this
morning. there was no Indication OF a
change in sentiment over night. As the
bcavv artillery on both sides has spent Its
force without material result. or without
indication of possible change, even with
DELAY. there was feeling among the
members in both camps that 1t would
be we'll to dispose of suffrage as soon as
possible, so as to take up other busl ness
Therefore, the work Of clearing the desks
for action was started during the morning.
While both political parties have de-
clared through their national and State
committees for woman : suffrage, the
Democratic committee alone has been
consistent in the matter. Its chair
man. Henry r. Isaacs, has been here since
Monday, working IN accordance with the
wishes of the committee, while the he
publican State chairman. Daniel j. Lay
ton Jr, Is working against suffrage and
AGAINST the wishes of his committee.
National Republican Committeeman
Coleman du Pont saw some of the MEM
bers at the PENNSYLVANIA railroad station
in Wilmington, this morning, but with
what result was not learned.
.Nor READY FOR VOTE, SAYS BALL.
Things are moving along, but VIC are
not quite ready for a vote
This was Senator Balls reply when
asked bv an Every Evening man, just
before the legislative session convened,
whether there was any change from yes
ferday in sentiment regarding suffrage
In either House.
Suffrage Senators seemed 10 manifest
spirit of optimism. evidently based on
rilrnors. that nobody could confirm. that
thev had gained recruits One rImor
had it they had gained two votes IN the
Senate, those of Senators Handy and
Long, and that third would vote IN the
affirmative if the matter went over until
next week.
now sen ATORs TALK.
AS il has been no secret that Senator
HANDY has declared himself against
suffrage, the rurnor caused STIR. When
he was asked how he expected to vote,
he replied; My position Is well known
i. has not changed.
Senator Long declined TO commit him
self Il am not prepared to say how |
will vote he stated In fact, | don t
know as / know myself.
II was impossible to get an expression
out of Senator Highfeld, who has been
counted on by the suffragists.
NO ACTION TO-DAY.
Suffrage will not be acted upon in the
Legislature today. Unless the Senate
should take prior action the ratification
resolution IN the House vii be voted on
next Wednesday.
The strongest kind Of suffrage pressure
is being brought to bear on Senators in
the anti camp. and while friends of
the cause were more hopeful today than
Yesterday. they were not sure enough 10
map out any definite Senate slff rage pro-
gram.
In order TO expedite a report on the
Senate resolution, Chairman Walker Of
the judiciary committee, to which il has
been referred. called the committee to-
cether early this afternoon, To consider
the resolution. Asked whether he thought
II would be reported out OF committee
TODAY. Senator Walker replied: i can
not saw. but think not
II IS felt that if enough votes can be
rounded up IN the Senate 10 pass IT, i will
he voted on next Monday If this is not
possible the scene will likely shift 10 the
House,
At a conference of all the House Re
pubhcans, this morning 1t was agreed, on
the assurance Of Chairman Lyons Of the
revised statutes committee, TO which the
House Suffrage Ratification resolution has
been referred, that the committee VII
report the resolution next TUESDAY, TO cal
it up for vote on Wednesday In Tho
meantime suffrage will remain dormant
In the House.
STICK BY "RoUND ROBIN.
The signers Of the House ss'round robin
pledge to defeat suffrage do not appear
TO have had any desertions from thel
ranks, 50 there is not much encourage
ment for friends Of the measure
II would be impossible to hasten actor
on the pending resolution, IN view OF th'
fact that bill cannot be acted upon th'
day IL is reported from committee, except
under suspension Of rules, which requires
tw9 thirds vote.
TO DE REFoRrED "oN rs mERIrs.
The Senate judiciary committee after
giving the Senate suffrage resolution teL
minutes consideration. decided, by vot'
Of four TO one. TO report it out ''on NJ
merits
Senator Gormley, who cast the on
negative vote, wanted the bill reportet
unfavorably. and be may submit a minor
Itv report in that behalf.
The members of the committee wh'
voted In the affirmative are Chairman