over the
United States as if any other suffrage amendment had passed."
Surely anyone can see that if the Anthony Amendment had been
passed by Congress the effect would be entirely different from
that produced by the passage of one merely giving the Initiative
and Referendum to the States. And again: "If ratified, this
amendment would have the same effect in every State as if a
suffrage amendment had already passed its Legislature." Even this
is untrue. If any Legislature had submitted a suffrage amendment,
the subject would at once go to the men to be voted on but by
this method there must be a petition signed by 8 per cent. of the
voters....

One thing, however, seems to be ignored by all. When once an
amendment to the Federal Constitution is passed and ratified by
three-fourths of the Legislatures it becomes a part of the
Constitution and is fixed for all time. No amendment has ever yet
been repealed but it would be difficult, if not impossible, to
secure another amendment on the same subject, especially one
providing for a course of action entirely different from the
former.

Therefore, this Shafroth Amendment, if passed, will place an
impassable barrier to future Congressional action in behalf of
woman suffrage. It simply refers the matter to the States. As a
reason for passing it, it is claimed that we cannot secure the
submission of the original amendment. Perhaps not today or during
this session of Congress; possibly not during this
administration, but with the wonderful progress of our cause, the
spread of the recognition of the rights of women and the "new
doctrine of freedom," the demand for it will be overwhelming and
it will be gained at no distant day.

* * * * *

Mrs. Ida Husted Harper, historian of the suffrage movement: In
behalf of many loyal and experienced suffragists I wish to enter
two strong protests--one against the resolution which has been
presented in the U. S. Senate by Senator Shafroth of Colorado, by
request of Mrs. Medill McCormick and Mrs. Antoinette Funk; the
other against their statement made to Congress that they speak
for the 642,000 members of the National American Suffrage
Association in offering this resolution.

The Congressional Committee, of which the