Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-22
OUTLOOK rs OMINOUS
Continued from page
aTATE or aNoRoDY KNOWs.

On the Equal Suffrage question about
which Governor Townsend and other
| friends of the cause expressed the belief
that the amendment will be ratified,
members of the Legislature. opposed to
| ratification were particularly jubilant.
| II seemed az il there we're enough anti
votes in New Castle and Sussex to make
its fate uncertain at least, and probably
to defeat IL.
POLL INDICATES DEFEAT.
Kent county is An unknown quantity.
An early poll indicated that in the House
at least III New Castle and Sussex
members we're against the measure, with
Kent an even break.
An unofficial poll Of the legislature at
noon indicated that the only Senators
| counted sure for suffrage are Robertson,
Walker, Richards, Alice, High6eld, Pool
and Price-seven. Nine votes are neces-
sary TO ratify.
In the House. ten Of the twelve Demo-
Gratis are reported TO be against tho amend
mcnt, along with two Republicans from
Kent and ght.Republicans from Susscx
| total of %. Eighteen votes are neccs-
| sary to ratify.
Questioning of members by Every
Evenings correspondent showed dis
position Of the part Of many to show their
hands; while some were frank other.
were not Mcssrs. Hart, Lyons, Francis,
Buckson and Klair in the House stated
they were for suffrage. Sherwood, Null
Lord, against. The following were non
| oommittal Quigley, Stats, Jakes, Hem
| rietty, Corbit, Danzenbaker, Brooks,
J. W. Smith, Jester and Bennett.
Partisans on both sides were hard at
work all morning and the members them
| selves gathered in groups To discuss SUI
frare and other questions
WANTS BUSINESS RESTRICTED.
Senator Robertson of Wilmington, who
came down virtually out of sick bed,
limping with sciatic rheumatism, is plead
ing that the session be confined to the
three objects contained in the governors
cnll. He has some supporters, while
some want to open the door wide.
II the door is opened the liquor question
will loom up. Representative klair said
| today that while he is opposed 20 amend
ing the kiair law he is willing To intro
ducc tho "dry's" proposed bill amending
| that law so NJ 10 make IL conform TO the
| Federal law While the bill is not herr yet,
| he expects it. II wac reported that the
! physicians indorsing tho amendment had
| Kicked the .tracee. but he savs dele
CATION Of doctors called on him Yesterday
in favor of the proposed change.
scHooL CODE RIG QUESTION.
The big question discussed by legisls-
tive groups, this morning, WAS the School
| Code That IL will he amended or repealed
seems certain SiiEscy and Kent also some
| rural New Castlc, hostility TO the code WAS
| pronounced here during the morning. but
| IT had it's friends In all three counties who
were endesvorlng TO line the legislature
/ upfor reasonable amendments. They are
! hopeful Of doing this.
From present indications the code will
get first attention. suffrage being relegat-
ed until all educational matters arc dis
| posed of.
CAUCusEs TO RE HELD.
Representative McNabb. who is an
avowed anti-SuiTraglst called a conference
! of the Democratic members this morning
to informally consider general program.
1t WAS not, however binding CAUCUS
The Republicans expect To CAUCUS tonight
The House Republicans had con-
! ference, this morning, and agreed 70 con-
tinue the old organization except possibly
as to page and telephone messenger.
AGAIN THE KENT "RIrPKRs."
There is probability of partisan trad
ing on legislation during the spe cial ses-
sion. Two Kent county "rppers' de-
| feated at the last regular session, are likely
to be introduced again and will precipitate
a hot fight
One provides for three commissioner
Levy Court for Kent county and another
proposes a new system of assessment for
taxation. The Levy Court bill is object
tlonable TO Democrats because it would
. h
able to Republicans.
Kent county Republican members of
the Legislature today offered To trade
Woman's 5 Suffrage for Kent .npper"
legislation.
Among prominent Delawareans who
came TO Dover today were Thomas t..
+ Peeney, William j Highheld, Samuel II
! Baynard. Joseph Wiggesworth, Robert
O. Houston. Theodore " Townsend and
Rufus Lingo.
John F. Thomas. who lobbied in behalf
of the Initiative and Referendum bill at
the last regular session of the General
ASS ,mbly, came To Dover today, but
says nc will not submit the bill at the
special session.
BUSINESS TossTARr TOMORROW
According TO the present program,
business Will not start until tomorrow,
beginning with reading OF the governor S
message, at L O'Clock.
In the lobby of the House, which was
comfortably filed, were most of the mem
bers of the executive committee of the
Delaware Equal Suffrage Association,
as we'll as other women The members
were almost swamped with kilograms.
letters and petitions for and against
suffrage. Representative Lloyd of Sea-
ford got q petition with 130 signatures,
Republicans and Democrats, urging him
not to vote for suffrage.
WORKER PROM WASHINGTON.
F. H. Barrow, seer etary to Congress
man Mondell. Republican floor leader
of the National House of Representatives,
, came TO Dover. today to urge ratification
of the Woman's Suffrage Amendment.
PARTY LEADERS IN DOUBT.
Party leaders who have been adyo-
eating woman's suffrage now express
doubt concerning ratification.
Legislators say since leaders are divided,
members of the Legislature would be
justified in any manner of voting
Many opponents of woman suffrage
came TO Dover on the noon tram The
members Ii the Levy Clurt Of New Castle
county also arrived then.
Governor Townsend s message TO the
Legislature will be presented tomorrow
morning. 1t probably will be very brief
Miss Alice Paul, Woman's party chair