Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-07
PLEADS FOR SUFFRAGE
AMENDMENT BY \. {.
Senator Simmons Opposes Equal
Rights, but Thinks if Inevitable;
Will Help Democrats.

Washington. April "A virtual APP
peal to the Legislature of North Caro-
lima TO ratify the Susan b. Anthony
amendment as the thirty-sixth State was
issued here Yesterday by Senator + Nj
Simmons, who is probably the most in
fuential political factor IN the Tar Heel
state. Senator Simmons, like Senator
Overman. opposed the Anthony amend
ment in the Senate, although the Presi-
dent probably exerted more pressure to
bring the North Carolina Senators into
line than was brought TO bear upon Sem
ators from other sections.
Senator Simmons says he is still op-
posed TO woman suffrage. particularly
through Federal amendment, and believes
il will be not helpful but distinctly detri-
mental to the highest interest of the
women themselves but he appreciates
that suffrage for women is inevitable.
The practical question, he says, IS not
whether women shall have suffrage, but
when-whether it is 10 be today or to-
morrow.
The north Carolina Senator contends
that women should be allowed TO vote
this wear and expresses the belief that:
III women are allowed TO vote this
wear their affiliations in the approaching
elections VIII ldEHclD
ture alignment IN politics.
Senator Simmons believes on the issues
to be presented this fall most of the women
will affiliate with the Democratic party.
The North Carolina Legislature is TO
meet in special session soon to consider
woman suffrage and tax revaluatlon legis-
lation, Senator Summon S statement, which
may also force some expression from
Senator Oyerman, who is now candi-
date for denomination and election, says
there is belief among Democrats that ad-
vantage will accrue to the party this year
through the votes of women.
The statement of Senator Simmons,
which will doubtless have mush effect
in North Carolina, says:
THE practical question which now con-
fronts US Is. therefore, not whether women
shall be accorded the privilege of full
and equal suffrage. but when shall they
be permitted to enter into the enjoyment
of these privileges. Shall it be today or
not until tomorrow? Shall il be this year
or not until next year Shall it be in the
impending election or not until the next
succeeding election? Manifestly this stu
alton presents a pure question Of policy
and should be dealt with without embarras-
ing reference to individual views as TO
the widom or unwisdom of woman suf-
frage as an original proposition. While
it will not be in the power Of North Caro-
lima TO determine al its option whether
women shall or shall not vote, circum-
stances seem TO have placed in the States
power the option Of determining whether
that privilege shall be accorded them in
this years or postponed until next years
elections
II do not wish TO discuss the political
aspects of this matter further than to say
that while Republican and Democratic
leaders here generally concede the in
evitable ratification of the amendment,
there is persistent belief that Republican
leaders fear the effect of women's partici-
patton in this years elections, while
Democratic leaders believe their partici-
patton will be to the advantage Of the
Democratic party. However that may be
il is certain that two great questions, each
of vital, nationwide import, both of
which in their higher human aspects con-
eern women more deeply than men. will
be involved ia this years elections. and
upon those questions ii is believed women
would naturally synpathize with The atti-
tude Of the Democratic party"