The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-03-20
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, March Is, 1854.
Special to the Democratic Press:

|
They have gone. I mean Susan B.
anthony and about one hundred of
Ter followers. The male politicians
ire happy again, and the President /
ieels safe. This National WOman's
Suffrage Convention was a success in
numbers, in oratorical effect and novel
but that is all / can say
Of it. After celebrating in assembly,
they determined to
BUTTON HOLE THE PRESIDENT,
and about one hundred masculine
marched in military column
under command of Miss Susan to the
White House. The President received
them pleasantly. Miss Susan, as the
spokesmaness of the occasion. said to
Mr. Arthur that if he wished to be
elected to fill his present position for
the next four years, he would be much
more likely to write second in
augural if he could, ON this occasion,
pledge the representative women of
the Nation that in that inaugural he
would recommend the passage of a
sixteenth amendment to the Constitu-
tion.
THE PRESIDENT NONPLUSsED.
This little speech was one which the
President had not anticipated. and to
frame reply that would be non COM
initial and at the same time delude the
girls into the belief that he was SYM
pathiser with their cause, was no small
task of verbal diplomacy. After a
moment for recovery, he, however, in
a pleasant manner said he felt certain
that as the ladies were in earnest and
determined, they would secure what
they OUGHT to have.
Miss Anthony then said: "Ought
not woman TO have full equality and
equal rights?" whereupon the Presi-
dent replied: 1--WE should probably
differ upon the details of that ques-
ton"
Here the discussion abruptly ended,
and as the delegation were tripping
down stairs they encountered Ben
Butler going up to make a call on the
President. After greeting them cor
daily he said Significantly:
Ladies', hope to see you here again
soon."
General" said Miss Anthony, " if
you are for us, we are for you, and We
,,;,I hoI,> x,O, rrat baro
But the old war horse cooked his left
eye and replied: Ladies, I'll see you
later.".
A WOMAN ON PRESIDENTIAL CANDI-
DATES.
Mrs. Lille Devereux Blake, of New
York, while speaking to the Conven-
ton on the unknown quality in pol
itics," alluded to Presidential candi-
dates in manner that is reassuring to
only one. Edmunds, she said, would
never do at all. Blaine was little bet
ter, rs he had not espoused their cause
heartily, and women want no luke
warm lover" Conkling, Logan or
Gresham, neither one would do, and
that exhausts the Republican list. On
the Democratic side Mr.. Bayard Op-
posed them, while dear Mr.. Mcdonald
was just too sweet for anything, and
the man of all candidates for the ladies.
THE STAR ROUTE PROSECUTIONS
are now before Springer's Committee,
and the testimony of such eX-ofiicials
as Postmaster General James and At
torney General McVeagh makes very
readable matter for the public. Mr..
James went through the history of the
affair, which is already well known,
and said from the moment the table of
the famous ninety-three star routes
was given out to the press, Mr.. Dorsey
began to actively engage in efforts to
shield himself, to bring the investiga-
ton to naught, to disturb the relations
of the President with his Cabinet, and
TO convince the country that persecu
ton was the primary motive of the
department and the administration.
Mr.. James recounted the statements
which, he said, were made by ex Sen
ator Spencer, and which have been
given to the public. The witness said
he was glad of the opportunity to APP
pear before the committee to give a
true history of the case, and do justice
to the memory of the late President,
who had acted in the matter in the
most honorable and courageous man
ner. '' If he had taken lower view
of his obligations as Chief Magistrate
and as All honest man." said the wit.
ness, "it is my firm belief that he
would not have fallen a victim to the
assassin's bullet"
Your belief, Mr.. James, is that the
assassination of Garfield was in conse-
quence of star route matters "' asked
Mr.. Stewart, of the committee.
"I don't say that" replied the wit.
ness. 81 mean, judging from the
cIamor of the people and clippings
found in the assassin's pocket, that
Guiteau's head was turned by these
things"
ARTHUR AND MCVEAGH's OPINION OF
EACH OTHER.
After Mr.. James was relieved, the
ex Attorney General, McVeagh, was
called to the witness chair, and from /;
vast amount of testimony given by
him, l give an excerpt to show wha
reciprocal opinions politicians some
times entertain for each other. Mr.
McVeagh said: II was known tt
have been in very ardent politica
sympathy with President Garfield
!. On all the questions about which th'
Republican party was so strenuously
divided into two hostile camps at Chi
, cago, upon every one of these ques
tions | had been in as hearty accort
with him a. had been in hearty ant
strenuous opposition to President Ar
thur. Mr.. Arthur was well known t.
entertain and to have given expression