The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-09-02
NOW THE Duty OF
1NONEN TO VOTE,
ylS ENGLAND
But Attorney General
Fears Some of Them
Will Lose Francise
gneelal to Tho West Vlrginlan.l


aeteenth amendment enfrancnis'
M lie women OF the state, were
dIScussed by Attorney General T.
N, England In an address before
the Charleston Kiwanls club las!
Tueeday. He said In part:
tsWOman suffrage IS now al
quality, the supreme law OF the
ensrafted in and made u part
1tiF Federal constitution.
hAs to what may have boon our
previous views as 10 the & Sn aAieaCY
OF this vital, much agl.ated aud dls'
Gussed subject, is now iuniut@riat.
nc is now with us The women
This Republic are now enirnnf
d, They are citizens villa
rights with men To vote and
office. An addi.iona! re5pon.
Iity is imposed upon them.
Ne,sl that 1t Is Lhe!' duty as AM2fl'
can citizens to meet these addlt.Oh'.
al responsibilities and obligations
bravely and perform their part In
our governmental affairs.
Some say that women shoult
hot vote. Now, as they are cnfran.
Used, say that in my judgment
BY should vote, that It Is their
,dty to vote. Responsibilities viii
Fest upon them now as they neYei
have before. We can boast as new
ebefore, OF government OF the
pple, by the people, for the PEG
Nov as they arc made citizens
With equal rights with men, feel
that It Is the duty Of each state In
lie Union to enact the proper anu
Necessary legislation, SO they ma!
have the right to freely exercise
HE privilege granted to them in the
Nineteenth Amendment TO our FED
geral Constitution.
t"This should he done immediate.
nv and all obstacles removed In
time SO they may be able to vote
at the coming election.
at is true that adoption OF the
Woman's Suffrage Amendment su.
persedes all state constitutions ana
laws in conflict Herewith.
" "They now have the same right
NVote and hold office In every
In the Union as men. They
fent!tIed to the full benefit or
as right. feel that it should be
tIven them. They should not be
disseminated against. The states
have a right to place certain limi-
tations precedent to the right TO
vote. Some states require certain
educational qualifications and oth
er different qualification. In this
state registration, among others, is
required.
MAY our women register under
Gresent registration system IN
lte so they may have the
light to vote or the second
November as the men?
ere will be no general regis
tral6on of voters under our present
registration laws before the next
peral election.
Il Is true the registrars will sit
70 days, beginning on the third
ay before election, for the pur.
OF registering any voters IN
precinct. This sitting Will be
at some designated place in the
voting precinct.
n 1.-THE next and last chance any
voter will have to register will be
1t meeting Of the county court
at the court house on the Tuesday
next preceding the general cleo
ton. The court cannot sit longer
than two days. 1t Is provided that
III this meeting Of the county court,
any voter appearing in person and
entitled to registration, may be reg
istared in his proper voting pre-
ctnct, Now l have given the OPP
portunities women will have to reg
lister before election day.
81 would venture the assertion
that in many populous precincts
the registrars would be unable, for
lack OF time, to register all the yot-
era applying for registration, If n
@RrRe.per cent. Of the women should
" for registration.
han again under sucn G9n9l'
g, many OF them would be
r. ced to stand around all day and
then perhaps have to return the
next day, and then in all proba-
and not be registered, We know
hat also many OF them would have
u travel several miles to their vot-
Ing place, or other place In such
voting precincts designated for
registration, and not many ladies
would do so.
"Surely not many would travel
to the court house to be registered,
and then the court has only two
days IN which to do this work, and
mol many could be registered for
vi have given you briefly the
laws, Of this state under which
women may be registered. It is
very apparent that these provl-
sions are not very adequate. The
men had q personal registration.
The registrars went to their homes
and places of business, or looked
/ them up elsewhere and registered
them.
titled. to the same convenient meth
al of registration? 1t will be nee
essary, Il any large number OF
fhem vote. We should not dis.
cFirnirate against them. They
shou' be treated fairly. am
read, to use all my power and in
dueY 10 to bring this about. Suit.
afle means OF registration should
ia provided for them. 1t Is now
inadeuuate-it should be made ade.
0a9te, There is plenty of time.
iet us be fair and just with them.
HCnder our Federal Constitution
as nov amended, women have equal
rights with men to vote. That be-
Ing true, they certainly should
have equal rights In this respect
under the laws of our state.
stIast but not least, | must call
your attention to another matter
which will largely prevent the full
~, 4 tree exercise Of the enfran.
cf4sed women at the polls on the
election day.
- court may divide the voting pre-.
Cjncts, The law requires this to be
done ninety days before election.
our voting population will be prac.
tfcRuy doubled.
Feds Of voting precincts