The New York Times/1918/11/11/Suffragists See Victory
SUFFRAGISTS SEE VICTORY.
Recent Election a Rebuke to Democratic Opponents, Says Miss Paul.
Special to The New York Times.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.—The fight for the adoption of the constitutional amendment to give suffrage to women has gained adherents, said Miss Alice Paul, Chairman of the National Woman's Party, today, by the control of the Senate passing from the Democrats to the Republicans. The amendment, she said, had gained at least one vote and perhaps two in the present Senate, by reason of the lection of men favourable to the cause to replace, for the short term, December to March 4, members who opposed the amendment.
"Woman suffrage comes out of the election with greater prestige and a stronger political position than it has ever held," said Miss Paul in a statement. "In all but two of the suffrage States the Democratic candidates against whom we campaigned, were defeated. In those two, Montana and Nevada, the Democratic majorities were so reduced that it was two days before it was known whether the Democratic candidates were elected or defeated.
"Not only has the Democratic Party received a strong rebuke, for its treatment of suffrage, but individual opponents have learned that suffrage cannot longer be opposed with impunity. Outside of the South, where the elections last Tuesday were merely confirmations of the primary results, every Senator seeking re-election who had voted against suffrage, except two, was defeated."
Among the anti-suffragists defeated by suffragists enumerated by Miss Paul in her statement are Senator Saulsbury, President pro tem. of the Senate; Senator Weeks of Massachusetts, Senators Benet and Hardwick, and the election of Governor Stanley of Kentucky to the seat made vacant by the death of Ollie James, long a suffrage opponent.
"With the elections behind us, and strengthened by the results therefrom, we turn again to the battle with the Senate, determined that before these hundred days remaining in this Congress have gone the suffrage amendment shall have passed," Miss Paul's statement concludes.