Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-02-11
SUFFRAGE. VOTE
To WASHINGTON
Official Copies Of Mackay Res
oIutiOn VIII be Rushed
RATIFICATION IS SIGNED
Governor Edwards Will Send
Copy to President Wilson,
Suffragists Are EIated
RATIFICATION IS SIGNED
By Special Correspondent.

By Special Correspondent.
TRENTON, Feb. 11:-Oficial
copies of the Mackay concurrent res
oiution passed by New Jersey and
quallfylng the state as the twenty
ninth commonwealth to ratify the
Susan B. Anthony amendment to the
Constitution for suffrage will be
rushed to Washington as soon as de-
tails in connection with the certifica-
ton of the resolution are complied
with.
After the ratification of the reso-
luton in the house, Speaker Glover
signed the measure and President
case of the senate will certify that 1t
Is the same as was passed by the
upper house. The original concur
rent resolution will be filed with
Secretary of State Martin and copies
given to Governor Edwards The
governor 10 not required to sign con-
current resolutions of the legislature
Governor Edwards will forward an
official copy to President Wilson and
the presiding officers OF the United
States senate and congress, and the
Secretary of State at Washington.
Mrs. Lillian +. Feickert, of Plain
field, president of the New Jersey
Woman Suffrage Association, ex-
pressed her qualification at the State
fight for equal rights The suffrage
question was pertinently brought to
the attention Of the legislature In
1912. Former State Senator William
Gebhardt, of Hunterdon, was the
sponsor then. 1t was a proposition
to have the legislature go on record
for a referendum to amend the state
constitution. The late Senator George
W. F. Gaunt, of Gloucester, and
Judge j. Warren Davis, of Salem,
supported Gebhardt. Suffragists re-
call that the bill secured nineteen
votes in the house. Then in 1918 the
fight was continued and the referen
dunn approved, but through some
error legal notification and puolica-
tion was neglected and the action Of
the legislature fell by the Wayside.
THAT was when we We're green in
the game" said Mrs. Feickert, with
just a touch OF reminiscence. In
1914 and 1915 the legislature ap-
proved the referendum idea and in
the fall of 1915 the popular vote was
held in which suffrage was swamped
by $1,000.
Undaunted the suffragists continued
their campaign from another angle
and in the 1916 legislature attempted
to secure the right of presidential
suffrage This year failure met the
Is
man Pierson, of Union, which was in
tended for a referendum %as defeated.
During the war period the suffragists
did not push their campaign, accord
ing to their field workers. preferring to
devote all their time to war-work ac-
tivities with the hope of success for
their cause In 1920.
Activities of the state suffragiStS Will
now be directed to a campaign to in
a fsg.y, al
drive. Mrs Feiekert said the idea now
is to have all women fully realize their
responsibilities under the proposed
constitutional amendment which she
believes will soon be ratified by the
necessary thirty-six states and become
the law OF the land. Plans for citizen
ship conferences are under way
Mrs Feickert will attend the con-
vention of the National Woman Suf-
frage Association in Chicago which
opens Thursday The windy city Will
also witness the gathering of the ma
tional congress of women voters this
week and next week.
State suffragists will gather in New
ark or February 20 to map out edu-
cational campaign.
There will be no Woman's party IN
New Jersey Notwithstanding the ex-
istence of the New Jersey league for
women voters. AS president of the
state association, Mrs. Feickert $
TO Jersey women is to en-
roll according to Individual prefer
ence in the recognized political parties.
At the invitation of field secretaries
for the suffragists. Governor Edwards
posed with a group of workers for the
movies. In a brief interview the gov
ernor expressed satisfaction with the
action of the legislature and claims his
first campaign pledge is carried out.
While all the jubilancy over the ac-
ton of the Legislature is confined TO
the suffragists, the "antis' were at
Miss Clara Vein, of Elizabeth
chairman of the legislative committee
of the New Jersey Association op-
posed to Woman Suffrage said, IN
upon the action of the
~.
] Jersey has been repudiated by the
New Jersey legislature. The situation
is serious when fifty-two men can
by their votes nullify a majority OF
81. 10S, denying the right to the peo-
pie of their State to vote upon TINS
issue.
Does this not inViolate the right
Of the State of New Jersey to stand
before the United States Supreme
court and plead for any amend
nent on states rights when hav-
ing registered their prpotest against
he passage of the Eighteenth Amend
nent they proceed to fasten another
Federal amendment upon their
state?"
Miss Charlotte Rowe national field
of the "antis" has stated that
The action of the several legislatures
IN approving suffrage without refer
endurn will be carried to the supreme
court of the United States.