Speech #650385490

I know that there has been a ruling by the Vice President that no amendment can be offered to the joint resolution. but I had heretofore prepared an aniendinent. after the word " sex." on line 11. to add the following: Provided. That no married woman shall be entitled to vote who would not be so entitled if she were a single woman. Unless we can pass an amendment to our immigration laws to enable us to correct the evil to which I have referred. this proposed constitutional amendment will enfranchise thousandsyes. millionsof alien women who have never taken the oath of allegiance which the male alien is compelled to take. and who have never been compelled to undergo the searching investigation by United States officials. who examine every male applicant for citizenship. We will. therefore. if the proposed constitutional amendment is adopted unanended. enfranchise. through the provision of the Revised Statutes to which I have referred. millions of women without throwing this protection around the electorate. It is a mooted question whether an amendment can be made to the immigration laws. and therefore I feel that here and now is the place for us to write into the fundamental law of the land a prohibition against a condition that no patriotic American citizen wants to see. Mr. President.