Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-20
.SUFFS HISS WILL HAYS
FOR DELAWARE DEFEAT
Demand Why Republican Legis'
lature at Dover Could Not
be Forced to Ratify.

Washington, May l0.-Will III. Hays,
Republican National Chairman, ended
his speech before the Republican women
of the District of Columbia yesterday
afternoon. with two women Suftraglsts
on their feet yelling questions at hum
and many others kissing and cat lllng
the disturbcrs
From the moment he he an to speak
the chairman was subjected TO cross
fire of questions and lnterlectons by. a
bevv of woman suffragist workers, who
had come fresh from their Disappointing
battle with the Delaware Legislature
They wanted to make the chairman ex-
plain why the Republican majority at
the Delaware capital could not force
adoption Of the amendment.
"As soon as YOU have had moro ex-
periencc in practical politics" Mr.. Hays
told tho first questioner, you Will under
stand that party officials do not carry
legislatures around in their pockets.
The Republican organization has done
everything in honorahly could TO nduce
the Delaware Legislature to act, The
only thing left would be for US to go down
and try TO buy some votes, and that isn =
done any more in the Republican Party"
A little later when he made plea
for Republican support because Re
publican officials could be counted on
to insure good government another
woman rose and shouted How can
you make such omise when you
cant count on the Republican Iegis-
lature YOU already have in power IN
Delaware
Mr.. Havs rccounted that of the thirty
five States which already had ratified,
twentv-nine were Republicans, ard asked
his ouestioners why they didn't call on
some Of the Democratic States. Tie pre-
dictcd that If Delaware did not ratity
some other State would in time 10 make
the amendment effective hy the November
elections.
'.Why do you say that, voice cried
when YOU admit you have no influence
with even Republican Legislatures
There we're Kisses and catcalls here,
but the speaker managed to reply
II saw | feel certain Of It, because
I believe that some one of the remain
ing States is going to he intelligent
enough to act between now and election
time
AS now interrogators jumped up the
hisses and catcalls increased, and the
voices Of those seeking to ask ques-
tions were mingled with wells Of sit
down." and throw them out, Bat
the Suffrage workers persisted untl
Havs, IN despair. declared
This kind Of conduct on the part
Of women makes it hard T. get Re
| publican legislatures 70 ratify the amend
ment.
! Headquarters Of the National Woman 5
Party issued a statement last night saying
/ the party had been responsible for the
/ Interruptions, and that seventeen ot ITS
members had taken part IN the demon
/ stratIon.
.sThe Republican Party" the state
ment continued. is in overw helmlng
/ control III the Delaware Legislature,
| which has been IN session since March y
but has so far failed 10 give the vote
which will complete ratification Of the
I suffrage amendment.
I'm addition. the Republican Governors
of Connecticut and Vermont have
steadily refused TO cali special sessions
Of their Legislatures which are believed
to hold maiorlty for the amendment.