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Federal Suffrage Circular


the measure for ten years and gave a comprehensive argument on its constitutionality before the House Committee which appears in our hearing of December, 1914. This was introduced by him in the House and published in the Congressional Record of February 18, 1915.

There are many political and ethical reasons why women of all the States should equally have the rights of national citizenship; and why all members of Congress should have the same constituency. Women now vote for twenty-two U. S. Senators and forty-one Representatives. This makes the question of their voting for members of Congress in all the States of national and international importance.

There is not a link wanting in the chain of evidence to show that this measure is constitutional and feasible.

The Articles of Confederation Pledged the Right of Suffrage to Women.

The Articles of Confederation, adopted November 15, 1777, secured to all free inhabitants of each State the privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several States. In a suit brought to determine the rights of a citizen under this clause, Justice Washington held that "privileges and immunities" included the right to vote and hold office. Women were "free inhabitants" and were