Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-07
Qualification Is Defeated.

[JlRGINIA stands firmly on its right. re-
served under the Constitution. to de-
terminc and regulate its own suffrage. Votes
for women may be forced upon it by other
States, should Il sufficient number Of them
ratify the inuuitpus Susan Il. Anthony
amendment, but OF its own volition il never
will surrender its ballot box into the keep
ing of tho Federal government.
That is the answer that Virginia, through
its Senate, by Il vote OF "a to 10. gives TO
those political cpportunists, who for party
success. would sell the State to those from
without the State who have been perniciously
active i'll attempting to persuade Virginia
10 abandon its Traditional principles for Il
mess OF political pottage. and to those mis-
taken ones among its own citizens who hon
cstly believe that woman suffrage, howSocver
obtained. will prove panacea for all politi-
cal, economic and domestic ills.
Courageous and decisive action by the
Senate, as seen in the vote on the l.eedy rcso-
luton of rejection, ends all doubt. for this
session at least. as to where Virginia stands.
and it daShes to the ground any hope that
the Assembly might be led 10 surrender tho
State sovereignty 10 the demands. the threats
and the pleas with which il has been in
cessanty hombarded Its action is in marked
contrast 10 that of the House which sought
cover from the assaults Of the Constitution
changers. and rather than meet the issue
fairly and brave!y adopted a resolution call
ing for referendum Blu; time remains III
which the House may rectity its error Of
Judgment. put itself right before the people
Of Virginia. and make the States position
unlnistakable before the other States OF the
Union 1t is hoped and believed that the
House will adopt such course. There are
in the lower branch Of the Assembly Il sufii-
cient number OF votes to defeat ratification
decisively, and at the earliest opportunity il
should he called UP again and that defeat ad-
ministered.
The attitude OF Virginia towards the
Anthony amendment has been fraught With
more Importance than attached TO that OF
other States. In this it followed precedent
anC became the battle ground Of a great is
sue perhaps the most vital since the War
Between the States was fought on 4 similar
issue. that Of State sovereignty 1t has been
pivotal State and its wavering sister Com
monwealths, OF old. have looked to it 10
set example. That is why the national
party leaders. for political ends. sought so
eagerly and unwarrantedly to influence its
action; that is why the national suffrage
association made so desperate an attempt TO
capture its vote and sent It's most skillful
lobbyists to Richmond: that IS why the Eir-
snia suffragists left nothing undone TO in
fuence the legislators from their plain path
of duty 10 Virginia. But all have failed
Virginia has set the example expected Of it.
other States which have still to act on the
amendment will be hearened 10 similar
course, and ii may eventuate that the action
OF the Virginia Senate yesterday will prove
tho direct means Of rendering abortive the
nation wide assault on the spirit and the let
ter OF the Federal Constitution Then
should the time come when Virginia I'M
believes that "a majority Of its
women want and should have the suffrage
il Will put the issue before its own neople
and settle il TO its own desire