Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/94

8O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE an affront to the intelligence of women and a mockery of the Connecticut and Vermont Legislatures; third, the present situa- tion in Connecticut. "From the time when suffrage became an issue/' Miss Luding- ton continued, "it has had the opposition of the leaders of the Republican party in this State. Since the amendment passed Congress they have resisted every expression of public opinion, every plea for ratification on grounds of justice and fair play. For a year the suffragists have tried sincerely and patiently to work in and with the Republican party to overcome this opposi- tion, and have been cooperating with a Republican Men's Rati- fication Committee formed for this purpose, but we are appar- ently no nearer a special session than we were a year ago." She then concluded: During all this time we have had no evidence that the National Republican Committee was really working in the State. We have found it very difficult to reach you personally and our appeals for specific help have been ignored. Mr. Roraback and Major John Buckley, secretary to the Governor, have stated that he has never been asked by you to call a session. They evidently feel, and wish the public to understand, that the National Republican Committee has given them a free hand to pursue their obstructionist course. And to confirm this comes President-elect Harding's refusal to attempt to persuade Governor Holcomb. In the meantime, we women are being told that the Republican party can not be held responsible, because the Governor stands alone in his opposition ! We submit that so long as the official leaders of the party in the State are in entire harmony with him in opposing us and the national party keeps hands off, they are accomplices in his opposition and must be held responsible accordingly. And we further submit that if a national party is to come before the voters on the basis of its policies and promises, then it must be held responsible for making those promises good through its State branches. ... If the Connecticut Republican leaders can play a free hand without inter- ference from the national party, then that party faces the alternative of either admitting powerlessness and disintegration or of being an accomplice in the State's attitude of repudiation. Connecticut women will remain voteless unless their State or Ver- mont or a southern State ratifies. The Republican party can help us in two ways either by giving a solid Republican vote in Tennessee or by putting forth a really vigorous effort in a New England State. The situation in Connecticut remained unchanged but about two weeks after this interview the Tennessee Legislature ratified