New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

this, but added that he agreed 1t would
have been improper to mention names
In a national party platform
obviously, in plank calling on the
legislatures to ratify the amendment
a direct appeal to the Governors to call
the legislatures into session is i'm
Piled" he said.
The public statement which Mr.. Hays
asked the women to spread broadcast
throughout Connecticut reads, in part,
as follows:
II do not agree that so great an is
sue should be settled only after a
fresh legislative election. Wisely or
unwisely, the question whether ratific-
cation of proposed amendment should
be submitted to the state legislatures
or 10 popular conventions composed of
delegates elected upon that issue has
been by the Constitution of the United
States vestet; in Congress, and not in
the states Congress, by submitting
the proposed amendment to Legislative
action, has ncratived legislative bodies
to determine the fate of the amend
ment. This is the basis upon which
all the legislatures have acted which
have voted for or against ratification.
Assuming that ultimate ratification
of this amendment is inevitable, moth
ing can be more important than that
the method of its ratification should
be uniform throughout the country. If
of an adopted amendment it could be
said in some states that it has received
only legislative sanction while in
others that its approval had been By
popular vote, the way would be open
fer unwholesome distinctions between
varying degrees of the authority in
different states of the same constitu-
tional enactment.
National Welfare True Test
aft, therefore, it is not for state au-
thorities to submit the pending QueS-
ton to popular vote, no valid reason
can be suggested for refusing to sum
mon legislature in special session
unless 1T be executive disagreement
with the anticipated action of that
body. But this, | respectfully suggest,
is not consideration by which au-
thorltles in any state should be moved
The test of the existence of the emer-
gency which justifes a summons to the
Legislature is not mere executive dis
approval of the action which the legis-
latlve assembly will probably sake.
The test is whether or not the national
welfare requires the prompt elmina-
ton of disturbing issue and the de-
termination of a great question of citi-
zenshlp before a pivotal election, in
stead Of after it.
The suffrage question is one that
can properly be settled soon. The
sooner it is settled the better. It is
really not party question. Its pend
ency merely makes it more difficult for
the public mind to focus upon the
issues Of the Pres dential campaign.
a special Legislative session is a small
price to pay for clearer political at
mosphere
Relieve the American woman from
the necessity of claiming her Constitu-
tlonal right and her sister from the
1ancled necessity of opposing the claim
and you will liberate a body of public
OPINION upon the campaign and it's
ISSUES which will prove itself to be one
OF our greatest national assets.
democracy in the United States is
really nothing but sham unless cleo
ton day gives all Americans chance
to express their political opinions.
casting the vote is the only way to
express opinion effectively. To hold
American women bound by the results
OF an election. to train them in schools
and colleges to think for themselves as
wen as a man, to accord them free
dom OF utterances as a Constitutional
right, and then to attempt to denv
them the opportunity to stand IN and
be counted on election day is gov
ernmental blunder of the first magni-
tude."
Miss Ludington declared informally.