Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-17
HEAVY ARTILLERY" OF
THE REPUBLICANS THERE
Strongest Pressure Used 70 Make
Issue Paramount With
Party Men.
CLAIM SUFFICIENT
VOTES FOR VICTOk \
Opponents, Who Are Also on
Hand in Large Numbers
Dispute This.
spec,ai Dispatch From star Correspondent

srsctaI Dispatch From staff Correspondent
STATE HousE, Dover, May IL.
Suffragists and anti-suffragists stormed
the Capitol today.
The former hoped 10 win their battle
today, while the latter were determined
to prevent this, if possible.
Friends of the cause came not only from
al parts Of Delaware. but from other
states as we'll Most OF the opponents
we're from Delaware, though they had
few visitors from the outside, according
TO report :,
II was evident, from the size and callbre
OF the crowd, that each side had rallied
It's forces from all parts Of the State
The suffragists brought with them some
Of the Republican heavy artillery. and
they are making suffrage the paramount
issue, as far as that party IS concerned
They are exerting every pressure possible
in that behalf, with the hope OF winning
over enough Sussex Republicans IN the
House 10 carry the day.
There seems to be no hope Of lining up
Representatives Lord, Lloyd, J. d. war
rington or Hiram Smith.
Prior to reconvenIng of the Legislature,
1t noon today, opponents OF suffrage said
rhev were confident that there was no
rnaterisl change in the situation up 70 that
time, and they say they cannot see bow
the suffrs glsts can win.
1t was evident, from the appearance Of
things here, today, that both sides had
been hsrd st work during the recess Of the
Legislature, but how much headway either
aide had made could not be told IN ad-
vance of vote being taken IN the House
STILL IN PICKLE"
The prospect OF the equal suffrage
r-atifying resolution being taken out Of
senate pickle" End messaged 10 the
House Of Representatives was expected
70 attract many persons 10 Dover today,
but the throng was late N arriving.
Twelve O'Clock, standard time, was the
hour fixed for the Legislature 10 re-
assemble.
Former Congressman Hiram r. Burton
o: Lewes and his daughter, Miss Leah
Burton, an active suffra gist, were among
the early arrivals.
Congressman Caleb r. Layton, who
spent last night at Dover, came here from
Washington TO ''show his colors" by
making another appeal for equal suffrage.
Doubt clouded the suffrage situation
early today. Neither proponents nor op-
ponents appeared sure. They quietly
awaited developments.
A few proponents said enough legs-
ators had been pledged TO guarantee
ton but they were not optimistic, be-
cause, they added. we believe some who
made promises lied like the deuce" OPP
ponents declared the opposition had not
been weakened and intirnated two Repre-
sentatives who had previously voted for
ratification might change their manner OF
voting for negative.
The Kent aud Sussex county members
Of the Legislature reached the State
House two hours before reassembling
time, and the New Castle county legis-
lators arrived half an hour after the
earlier arrivals.
PRonINE PERSONS PRESENT.
Crowds came to Dover constantly
after 10 O'Clock. standard time.
Alfred |. du Pont arrived here at noon.
Earlier arrivals included Governor John
q. Townsend. Jr. United States Senator
J.. Heislcr Ball, Coleman du Pont, Daniel
]. Layton Jr.. Robert G.. Houston, VIII
liam p. Swain. Henry B. Thompson,
George ". Sparks. George A Elliott.
John A. Barnard Robert Jones. James c..
Shaw. A. V T.. George, William c. Taylor.
p. Warren Green, Frank Mccoy and
Howard r. Frantz.
Women thronged the House lobby all
morning.
Pierre S. du Pont. who motored 10
Dover late in the morning, came here in
behalf of the school code
CONFER ON SUFFRAGE THIS AFTERNOON.
During the morning Republican leaders
from all parts of the State requested
speaker Corbit TO call a conference of
the Republican members Of the House to
be held in the Supreme Court chamber
at | o'clock STANDARD time r O'Clock
Wilmington time this afternoon for
consideration of the equal suffrage rati-
fying resolution, and he complied I'M
mediately.
Previous to the conference it was gener-
ally admitted that respecting equal
suffrage everything was high Up in the
air, with most Of the chances tavorlng
non-concurrence."
soME TOOK THEIR "KNITTIN'.
While men chatted in the halls and
corridors of the State House. many OF the
women In the House lobby spent the
forenoon tatting and doing other needle
work. Some remarked that the lobby
looked like textile factory.
4 meeting to be held on the Green this
afternoon by suffrag gIsts viii be addressed
by Mrs Lawrence Lewis national ratIh-
cation chairman Of the Woman : Party;
Mrs. Florence Bayard Hilles, Delaware
chairman Of that party, and Miss Mary
DubrOw, national organizer
Towards noon Republican politicians
expressed belief that some Sussex leaders
have been opposing equal suffrage rati-
hcation for the purpose Of compelling
the New Dispensation' to send campaign
funds to SUISSE They thought the