OCR Text |
Show M Delegation of Suffragists at HI White House to Ask That II President Send Message to HI Congress for Them. HI WASHINGTON, Doc. S. Woman Rfl suffrage confronted Presidont Vil6on H todav in the person of sixty mombcrs o tho National Woman Sufi'raga R3&o- HjH eiation, who pleaded that ho use his H influences -with congress to obtain tho H ballot for the women of the nation. It was tho first timo the president H1H a boon brought faco to face with tho HjH issue in a formal way. Ho told his II callers that whatever "might bo his per- HH sonal views on woman suffrage or any II other (subject, he had mado it a rulq not HH to urge anychinc upon cougresB that HH had been the nubjoat of organic "con- II sideration" by tho Democratic party, H of which he considered himself the fl spokesman. The presidont said that HH whon members of eongrees consnltod II him ho would freoly give his views and II ho added that having already been III asked his opinion nbout the organiza-HIHj organiza-HIHj tion of a standing committee in the 111 house of representatives to consider III woman suffrage, ho had expressed him-HI him-HI so -avor sucn a commit tee. 3 Some Disappointed. IU Some of the members of the delega- BR ,on w,,re disnppoiulcd. some felt en- 119 conragod. others were noncommittal. II Dr nna Howard Shaw expressed the 119 view that the president's indorsement II of iho idea of a special committee in Iy3 the liouso was nil that could havo been MHa expected under (.ho circumstances. II It was a quiet, earnest group of: suf- Hl fragisis who stood in a circlo wlth the HI president in its confer in the White II honso offices, Most, of them had H9 walked to tho White house" through a Hffl freezing gale. They constituted the III special committee appointed by the con-Bll con-Bll vention of (he national organization to Hll await the president's recovery from his HIS illnops and they marched confidently to HifS the White house to plead their -cause. Mfjfl "This is to be no mere 'handshaking HIm affair," remarked oue of tho leadors to Hffl the assomblnd group. "Dr. Shaw -will l do all the talking and the handshaking, If? Former Visit Remembered. H It. was said that she who spoke re-Hill re-Hill mcmbertd a visit of New Jersey suffra-Hll suffra-Hll fi'pts wn0 took tlle Pl'osclcnt' n message Hll 0,1 woman suffrage and shook hands Hll r,'il11 lnit ot no rPb'- HI ft The president nodded pleasantly to tho women as they formed m a circle around him, and Dr. Shaw stopped, tor-ward. tor-ward. Jn n, low voice she told in a straightforward simple way how unavailing un-availing had been tho frequent pil-grimagos pil-grimagos of tho woman to Washington heretofore and how committees of congress con-gress had listened courteously but had "buried their case." She appealed to tho president "in tho spirit of justice" to urgo congress by a message to adopt an amendment to tho federal constitution constitu-tion to bo submitted to tho states that would give women the right to vote throughout tho laud. She suggested throo ways for the prosidont. to help tho cause of suffrage by a special message mes-sage on the subject, a reference to it in any gbuoral moHSngo ho might sond, or tho use of lus influence to obtain the appointment of a standing committee in the house of representatives to consider con-sider tho subject as tho senate had done. President's Reply. "I want you ladies, if possible," said tho prosidont to the delegation, 'lf I make it clear to you, to roalize just what mv present situation is. "Whenever I walfc abroad I realize-that realize-that I am not. a free man; 1 am under arrest. I am so carefully and admirably ad-mirably cuarded that I have not oven the privilege of walking tho .streets. That is, as it woro. typical of my pros-ont pros-ont transference irom being an individual indi-vidual with his mind on any and ovcry subject, to being an official of a groat government, and incidentally, or so it fallB out, under our Byfltcm of government, govern-ment, the spokesman of a party. "I set myself this very strict rule when I was governor of Now Jersoy and havo followed it as president, and shall follow it as prosidont that I ani not at liberty to urgo on congress in messages policies which havo not had tho organic consideration of those for whom I am spokosman. Spokesman for Party. "In other words, I have not yet presented pre-sented to any legislature my private views on any subject, and I nevor shall, because I conceive- that to bo part of the whole process of government, that I shall be spokesman for somebody, not for ni3-sclf. It would be an impertinence. im-pertinence. When I spoak for myself, I am an individual; when I am spokesman spokes-man for nn organic body, I am a representative. repre-sentative. "For that reason, you sec, I am, by my own principles, shut out. in the languago of tho street, from 'starting anything.' I havo to confino myself to thoso things which havo been embodied as promises to the pooplo at an olection. That iB tho strict rule I set for myself. "I want to say that with regard to all other mattors'l am not only glad to bo consulted by my colleagues in tho two housoE, but I hope they will often pay nie tho compliment of consulting me when they want to know my opinion opin-ion on any subject. " Favors Committee. "One member of the rules committee did come to me and ask me what I thought about the suggestion of voutr Of appointing a special committeo of the house, as the Benato has already appointed, a special committee for tho" consideration of woman's suffrage, and I told him that I thought it was a propor thine to do. So, so far ns my personal advico has boon asked by a single member of tho committee it has been given to that effect. I want to tell rou that to show that I am Btrictly living up to my principles. When my private opinion is asked by those who are co-operating with mo, I am most glad to give it. nut I am not at liberty, until T speak for somebody else besides myself, to urge legislation on the congress." con-gress." There was a pause and Dr. Anna Shaw spolco up: "Mav I asK you a question V she said. The president nodded assent, "Since wo are members of no political politi-cal party, who is to sneak for us if we don't Bp'ealc for ourselves! " "You do that vory admirably," -remarked the presidont, and the entire assomblago joined in a laugh. Tho president thanked his visitors for calling, and said ho would like to shako hands with them. Dr. Shaw thanked tho presidont for his courtesy in receiving the delegation and the mombors filed by the president. Mrs. Shepard Heard. "T come from Salt Lake City,"Trfl. Lulu L. Shepard told "tho presidont, "and though my husband voted for Eoosevelt, i and my daughter voted for you, so vou soe what woman's suffrago can do. "I hope you will make him a convert," con-vert," laugfied the presidont. . Conflicting comments were forthcoming forthcom-ing from tho delegatos whon they lined up in frout of tho oxocutivo offices to have their pictures taken after tho reception. re-ception. Dr. Shaw expressed (ho view that tho ? resident's interview was very satis-actory, satis-actory, "It was all that wo could ask "for," she said." "ITo is in favor of a committeo of tho hotiso; that was our chief purpose in coming to see him." Mrs. Shaw added she was very much encouraged and expected action by congress. con-gress. Someone askod lSrs. Modill Mc-Cormick Mc-Cormick if Bhe had any comment to make on tho president reply. "No," said Mrs. McCorrniek, "I want to think." |