NATIONAL SUFFRAGE LIBRARY

WOMAN SUFFRAGE BY FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

COMPILED BY CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT

PUBLISHED BY NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE PUBLISHING CO., INC. 171 MADISONAVENUE NEW YORK

1917

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO

THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LEGISLATURES OF THESEVERAL STATES. IT GOES WITH THE HOPE THAT IT MAY LEAD TO A BETTERUNDERSTANDING OF THE REASONS FOR A FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTPROVIDING THAT NO STATE SHALL DENY THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON ACCOUNT OFSEX.

INTRODUCTION

No effort is made in the following pages to present an argument forwoman suffrage. No careful observer of the modern trend of humanaffairs, doubts that "governments of the people" are destined toreplace the monarchies of the world. No listener will fail to hear therumble of the rising tide of democracy. No watcher of events will denythat the women of all civilized lands will be enfranchised eventuallyas part of the people entitled to give consent and no Americanpossessed of political foresight doubts woman suffrage in our land asa coming fact.

The discussion herein is strictly confined to the reasons why anamendment to the Federal Constitution is the most appropriate methodof dealing with the question. This proposed amendment was introducedinto Congress in 1878 at the request of the National Woman SuffrageAssociation. Since 1882 the Senate Committee has reported it with afavorable majority every year except in 1890 and 1896. Twice only hasit 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 fromCommittee seven times, twice by a favorable majority, three times byan adverse majority and twice without recommendation. The House hasallowed the measure to come to vote but once, in 1915. Yet while womenof the nation in large and increasing numbers have stood at doors ofCongress waiting and hoping, praying and appealing for the democraticright to have their opinions counted in affairs of their government,millions of men have entered through our gates and automatically havepassed into voting citizenship without cost of money, time or service,aye, without knowing what it meant or asking for the privilege. Amongthe enfranchised there are vast groups of totally illiterate, andothers of gross ignorance, groups of men of all nations of Europe,uneducated Indians and Negroes. Among the unenfranchised are theowners of millions of dollars worth of property, college presidentsand college graduates, thousands of teachers in universities, collegesand public schools, physicians, lawyers, dentists, journalists, headsof businesses, representatives of every trade and occupation andthousands of the nation's homekeepers. The former group secured itsvote without the asking; the latter appeals in vain to Congress forthe removal of the stigma this inexplicable contrast puts upon theirsex. It is hoped this little book may gain attention where other meanshave failed.

C.C.C.

January, 1917.

PAGE CHAPTER I. 1

WHY THE FEDERAL AMENDMENT?

By CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT

There are seven reasons for Federal enfr

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