North Carolina Had Opportunity to Cast Deciding Vote for Women's Suffrage, But Turned It Down, 1920

“Our Legislature May Decide,” from the Statesville Landmark as reprinted in the Watauga Democrat, April 8, 1920

If the Delaware Legislature, now in session, fails to ratify the suffrage amendment and thus complete the list of 36 states necessary for ratification, the opportunity to complete the work and earn the gratification of the women suffrage advocates will fall to the North Carolina Legislature, when that body meets in extra session next summer. No other State Legislature will be in session before that time unless some of the Governors who have refused to call an extra session change their minds. National Republican leaders are making desperate efforts to secure favorable action from the Delaware Legislature, which is Republican, the appeal being made on the grounds of party exigency, and political expediency may induce the Delaware solons to do what they are evidently indisposed to do.

If it should fall to the lot of the North Carolina Assembly, which is to be called into extra session to fix the tax rate, to decide whether the sisters shall vote in the fall elections, the opportunity will offer to reap political advantage and accept the inevitable at the same time. But it is by no means certain that the Tar Heel legislators will embrace the opportunity if it is offered. The anti-suffragists who are in the majority realize that suffrage has won, but they would hold it off for this campaign if they could. They contend that if the women are given the ballot this year the great majority of North Carolina women will not go to the polls, either because of timidity or because they are opposed to women voting, and they believe that under the circumstances the minority part of the State would get the larger per cent of the votes of the women who did cast their ballots and that the Democrats might suffer seriously on account of the stay-at-home woman vote. It is this idea that brought the suggestion that the absentee voters’ law be amended so as to allow the women (and the men who so desire) to send their ballot to the polls. Those who fear the effect of the Democrats of a large number of women failing to vote, believe that this could be overcome by another election, but they fear they couldn’t get all their women voters to the polls this year. Therefore, if the North Carolina legislature is to decide, those who hold the view mentioned will strive mightly to defer action.