Milford chronicle., 1920-03-26
WHETHER UNDERSTOOD OR MISUNDER-
STOOD GOVERNOR TELLS LAWMAK- ,
ERS HE EXPECTS TO
CONTINUE PRESENT COURSE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANTHONY AMEND
MENT UP TO LAWMAKERS, He SAYS.
ASKS RELIEF FOR SCHOOLS.

State House, Dover Del. March %
The question is not one of politi-
cal eXpediency, but an Interpretation
of social justice. 1t is the world-old
question of right and wrong"
This strong appeal was made by
Governor Townsend for the ratifica-
ton Of the Suffrage amendment, when
he personally delivered his message
to the special session of the Legisla-
ture Tuesday morning. The Senate
and House members met in joint ses-
sion, at IL o'clock, to hear the Cover
nOr's suggestions for their guidance in
special session.
/ In concluding that portion of his
message relating to suffrage, Cover
nor Townsend said:
ITO you men l present this .respon-
sibility. Your oath of Office prompts
you 10 represent the State, as well as
the constituency of a single precinct
or division. Your supreme duty is to
think and act for the good of your
State and nation and the influence OF
woman is for good The eyes Of the
nation rest upon you. The responsi-
bility is yours"
In his message Governor Townsend
touched on only three subjects men
toned in his call for the special ses-
sion-suffrage, appropriating State
funds to relieve heavy school taxes
and enlarging of the Washington
Street Bridge bond issue.
Governor Townsend did not suggest
any amount that should be apprOpri-
ated for school purposes. On this line
he said something must be done to
relieve the tax on the farm. "Fortu-
nately the finances of the State
Treasury are such that this can be
done without embarrassing any other
of the State obligations" he said. "A
sufficient sum can be set aside from
the general fund to give the relief
needed and necessary"
Senator Long and Representative
McNabb composed the committee that
escorted Governor Townsend to the
joint session in the House chamber.
He read his message and was loud
ly applauded at the close. The two
Houses then separated and few min
utes later both recessed until 2 o.
clock this afternoon.
The Governors message follows:
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
To the Members of the General AS
emily:
Under authority granted by the
has been called TO consider problems.
which in my judgment, are of serious
Washington Street Bridge
The Act of the last General Assem-
bly, providing a bond issue to erect a
bridge over the Brandywine in the
City of Wilmington was found, due to
increased costs of construction, to be
The Commission, thus
unable to carry out the provisions of
the Act requested the Governor to call
a Special Session Of the General As
semly in order that authority might
be given to provide for necessary in
creases of the bond issues. But thru
the courtesy of Mr.. A. !. DUPONT, a
member of the Commission, the emer-
yency was provided for by the assump-
ion of any financial obligations nee
essary, until the meeting of the Gen
sral Assembly.
Therefore. while in session, I
would suggest that the request of
he Commission be considered and
provisions be made to care properly
or the needs of this projected inn
Woman Suffrage
Federal Constitution, passed by Con-
,ress is presented for your consider
tiOn.
Resolved, by the Senate and House
# Representatives of the United
'tate of America in Congress assem-
led (twO-thirds of each House con-
urring therein), That the following
rticle is proposed as an amendment
o the Constitution, which shall be
aid to all intents and purposes as
art of the Constitution when ratified
y the legislatures of three-fourths Of
he several States.
ARTICLE
THE right of citizens Of the United
tates to vote shall not be denied or
bridged by the United States or by
ny State on account of sex"
WOman's Suffrage has been a sub
'ct Of public discussion for over a
alf century. 1t is not an agitation for
lie moment.
The right of equal franchise has
cen granted and exercised with sue
sss in several States for year. 1t is
)t a theory or untried experiment.
NO amendment to the Federal Con-
tuition has been so long discussed.
he resolution passed by Congress was
e result of long deliberation. The
'tion was not done to the excitement
the hour.
Thirty-ive out of forty-eight States
I've expressed approval by ratifica-
IN. II is not an expression of local
sectional view. 1t represents a ma
'nal trend of thought, founded on
liberate thought and successful ex-
rienee,
The question is not one of political
pediency, but an Interpretation Of
cial Justice. 1t is the world-old
estion of right and wrong.
II expediency be considered howev-
we reflect on womanhood if we re-
Sc her right to express practically
ballot what she now influences by
re persuasion.
Her activities. in recent years, in
ace and war have been varied and
my. In none has her work been
lerwise than for upbuilding the con-
ion Of home and society and uplift-
) the lives and hopes Of men,
The vote to her is not only a right
AFFORD an extended and more Drac-
al opportunity for influence Ii is a
iponsibility which the serious and
'ughtful cannot shirk. If she would
Joy the privileges granted her in so
ty. in the business and professional
rid with the rights and considera-
Continued on page four)