Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-02
SUFFRAGE SEEMS
HOPELESSLY DEAD
IN LEGISLATURE
Its Rejection in the House, by
Vote of to %, Apparently
Sealed Its Fate.
LITTLE HOPE NOW
OF RATIFICATION
staff Correspondents of Every Evening

Stau SorreSponusnCt ol EVERY 1fNuhss
STATE HOUSE, Dover, Arm 2.
Although the suffragists lost their hight
in the House of Representatives yester-
day afternoon, when the resolution rati-
flying the suffrage amendment TO the
Federal Constitution WAS defeated by
vote of to %, the fight is not over.
Following the announcement OF the
result in the House yesterday afternoon,
Mr.. Lloyd, who had voted against
ratification. made motion to reconsider
the vote. The Speaker nut the motion ::
''ShaI the vote be reconsidered?" Every
member present, "a all told, voted IN the
negative. which is construed to mean the
vote shall not be reconsidered.
While Mr.. Lloyd's purpose was to
permanently prevent reconsideration, this
effect was questioned by some, who con-
tended that il would have been necessary
TO have adopted motion 20 lay on the
table the motion to reconsider. those
who held the latter view contended that
the House had merely decided not to
reconsider Yesterday, but that nothing
prevented reconsideration within three
days of actual session, which would
applv to next Monday and tuesday
Others hold that the action taken yester-
dav prevents reconsideration of the vote
at any time. directly or through subterfuge.
They base their contention on the follow
ing section of Cushing's Manuel:
at is 3 principle of parliamentary law,
upon which MANY of the rules and pro-
cecdings previously stated are founded,
that when a question has been put TO q
deliberatlve assembly, and decided,
whether in the affirmative or negative,
that decision is the Judgment OF the as
sombIy, and cannot be again brought INTO
question"
Another section says it cannot be brought
up In different verhiage to accomplish
the same result.
Following the action Of the House yes
terdav afternoon Governor Townsend.
who is an ardent supporter OF suffrage,
when seen by correspondent OF Every
Evening declined to comment, except TO
saw: The House has acted. lie had
shifted the responsibility 10 the 1.eglsia-
tsIre. United States Senator RalF was
equally reticent Both were noticeably
chagrined, though the result was not un-
expected by either.
The original vote by which the suffrage
resolution was killed IN the House was as
follows:
or-Dcmocrats- /: Republl-
Brooks. Buckson, Dean, Francis,
Gregg. Iakes. Hair and Lyons, s: total, 2.
Against-Demoersts Hardesty, Hast
ings. NJ Nabb, Murine, Mutvena, Para
dee. ouigley. Sherwood. J. ". Smith,
Soper. Staats, IL: Republicans Glen
daniel. Hanratty, Jester, Jones, Lloyd,
Lord. Parker, II. s Smith, Snow, ]. ID.
Warrington and Speaker Corblt-ll;
total, -
Not votinp-B Bunting. Danzenbaker
and :. ]. Warrington, al Republicans.
Absent-Iester. Republican. counted
against suffrage He was reported Ill.
Messrs. Lyons, Francis and Hart
changed their votes to mo, presumably
10 be in q position TO move rcconsldera-
ton. If they so desired. and Mr.. Bunting,
who had not voted, asked to be recorded
mo"
This made the final vote as follows:
For Suffrage.
Against sufTrage-26.
Immediately after the motion to re-
consider had been lost the House adjourn
ed until 1890 Monday morning, today
being Good Friday. The Senate subse-
quently did the same thing.
Former Speaker of the House Charles
III. Grantland did lot of missionary
work among the members on behalf of
suffrage, as did also Senator ban ana
others, while D. NJ Wilson was equally
active in the other camp, both working
on the floor of the House. Both the
governor and Senator Ball appeared to
lose hope early in the day.
LETTER FROM REV. F. b. SHORT.
Senator Short made public the follow
ing letter from his brother, Rev +.
Burgette Short, now in New York:
Remain true to your honest convic-
tions, resist bosses. ignore mere inthus-
asm, do not be caioled nor coerced into
any act that might call into question
your high minded integrity or your
loyalty to convictions. The world may
forget our errors bat it seldom forgiveS
a conscious wrong. / shall await the
final outcome of this important hour IN
the full confidence that you and your
associates will do your duty as you see
it and thereby maintain "A good con-
science and render faithful service
TO your constituency, your state and
the nation.
JoLLIFIcATIoG By ANTS
As soon as the House adjourned, the
throng of Ants in attendance held a
Continued on page "a