Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1920 — WOMEN’S VOTE UP IN 3 STATES [ARTICLE]

WOMEN’S VOTE UP IN 3 STATES

CONNECTICUT,- VERMONT AND WASHINGTON DECIDE. The chance that women of the United States are to vote in the 1920 presidential election now hangs upon the action of three Republican states—Connecticut, Vermont and Washington. Thirty-two states have ratified, Oklahoma undoubtedly will ratify Monday and West Virginia is scheduled to become the thirty-fourth state at a special session at Charleston on Friday. Chicago suffrage headquarters Saturday received the news that Gov. Holcumb of Connecticut is on the point of calling an extra session. It is largely up to Senator Bnaudegee, it is reported, the senator 'being the controlling force, in the last analysis—and he hasn’t been for suffrage. Majorities of the legislature and of the Republican state committee have asked Gov. Molcomb to issue the call, but he has taken no action. Vermont awaits some word from Gov. Clement. He is pronouncedly against ratification, but his legislature is understood to be ready to ratify as soon as it can get together. Washington is in the hands of an acting governor who refuses to call an extra session because of Republican factional disturbances. He wishes the assurance that the special session will ratify and adjourn Nothing is hoped for by the women from the Democratic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, and Tennessee in 1920. Florida and Tennessee are preeluded by their constitutions from acting on the federal amendment until new legislatures are chosen. The suffragists really desire thir-ty-seven ratifications, to be on sure ground, due to the Ohio situation, where a state law recently passed may require the action of the legislature in ratifying to be submitted to popular vote in November. The “antis” expect to make an issue of the Ohio matter. _ They have several cards up their sleeves should the thirty-six states be obtained for ratification, including . a plan to invalidate the presidential election if the suffrage amendment is declared in effect, giving the women full participation next November.