Woman Suffrage by Federal Constitutional Amendment

Woman Suffrage by Federal
Constitutional Amendment

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Title: Woman Suffrage By Federal Constitutional Amendment
Author: Various
Release Date: October 1, 2004 [EBook #13568]
Language: English
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NATIONAL SUFFRAGE LIBRARY
WOMAN SUFFRAGE BY FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT

COMPILED BY CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT
PUBLISHED BY NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE PUBLISHING
CO., INC. 171 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK
1917

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO
THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE
LEGISLATURES OF THE SEVERAL STATES. IT GOES WITH
THE HOPE THAT IT MAY LEAD TO A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF THE REASONS FOR A FEDERAL
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROVIDING THAT NO
STATE SHALL DENY THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON ACCOUNT OF
SEX.

INTRODUCTION
No effort is made in the following pages to present an argument for
woman suffrage. No careful observer of the modern trend of human
affairs, doubts that "governments of the people" are destined to replace
the monarchies of the world. No listener will fail to hear the rumble of
the rising tide of democracy. No watcher of events will deny that the
women of all civilized lands will be enfranchised eventually as part of
the people entitled to give consent and no American possessed of
political foresight doubts woman suffrage in our land as a coming fact.
The discussion herein is strictly confined to the reasons why an
amendment to the Federal Constitution is the most appropriate method
of dealing with the question. This proposed amendment was introduced
into Congress in 1878 at the request of the National Woman Suffrage
Association. Since 1882 the Senate Committee has reported it with a
favorable majority every year except in 1890 and 1896. Twice only has
it gone to vote in the Senate. The first time was on January 25, 1887;

the second, March 19, 1914. In the House it has been reported from
Committee seven times, twice by a favorable majority, three times by
an adverse majority and twice without recommendation. The House has
allowed the measure to come to vote but once, in 1915. Yet while
women of the nation in large and increasing numbers have stood at
doors of Congress waiting and hoping, praying and appealing for the
democratic right to have their opinions counted in affairs of their
government, millions of men have entered through our gates and
automatically have passed into voting citizenship without cost of
money, time or service, aye, without knowing what it meant or asking
for the privilege. Among the enfranchised there are vast groups of
totally illiterate, and others of gross ignorance, groups of men of all
nations of Europe, uneducated Indians and Negroes. Among the
unenfranchised are the owners of millions of dollars worth of property,
college presidents and college graduates, thousands of teachers in
universities, colleges and public schools, physicians, lawyers, dentists,
journalists, heads of businesses, representatives of every trade and
occupation and thousands of the nation's homekeepers. The former
group secured its vote without the asking; the latter appeals in vain to
Congress for the removal of the stigma this inexplicable contrast puts
upon their sex. It is hoped this little book may gain attention where
other means have failed.
C.C.C.
January, 1917.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER I.
1
WHY THE FEDERAL AMENDMENT?

By CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT
There are seven reasons for Federal enfranchisement of women. Other
countries have so enfranchised women. Conditions of men's
enfranchisement in U.S. were easy. Many State constitutions today
practically impossible to amend. Election laws do not protect State
amendment elections from fraud. Men's right to vote protected by
Federal Constitution; state by state enfranchisement would not give this
protection to women. Woman Suffrage a national question. Decision on
technical and abstract question of Suffrage demands different class of
intelligence from election of candidates.
CHAPTER II
12
STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OBSTRUCTIONS
By MARY SUMNER BOYD
State Suffrage amendments defeated in recent years by technical
difficulties. Ratification by Legislature and People theory of State
Constitutional Amendment. So adopted in South Dakota and Missouri.
In most states technicalities make amending impossible. Classes of
technicalities. Limit to number of amendments. "Constitutional
majority." Passage of two Legislatures. More than majority of the
people required for ratification. Indiana. Time requirements. New
Mexico. Revision by Convention. Some states have no or infrequent
Constitutional Conventions. New Hampshire. Delaware Constitution
alone amended by Legislature or Convention without popular vote.
Thirty states gave foundations