The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-03-10
WOMEN BESEGE NATIONAL CAPITOL, SEEKING SUFFRAGE
Present Arguments Before Senate and House Committees to Show Why
They Should Be Allowed to Vote.
kahOmaS Senator Makes Stirring Speech EuO Of the Sexeir Ru
Needed He Declares Balance Saloon Element Which
He Says Caused the Defeat of Suffrage In Oklahoma

Washington. D. C.-Almost 100
suffragists besieged the Capitol in
search of the ballot. They argued be-
fore the House Committee on Jul
dietary, and then descended on the
Senate Committee on Woman Suf-
frage. For three hours they talked.
Finally they were shooed from the
Marble Room of the Senate by the
ergeant-at-Arms, for it was visibly
impossible for the Senate to deal in
personalities while the chatter from
across the hall made it's way through
the swing doors.
AS result of the visit the women
relieved themselves of much argu-
ment as to why they should be per-
mitted to vote. They also found
much to criticise in the furnishings of
the Marble Room Likewise they
went away with well-conceived ideas
of certain members of Congress. The
estimates of public men, which are
practically unanimous, were polled.
They follow:
Senator Clay" Perfectly dear"
Senator Johnston - Sweet old
thing"
Senator Beveridge-"N Nasty, con-
ceited young upstart.
Senator Burkett-"Rude West
erner.n
Senator Wetmore-" Brute. "
Senator Owen-"Dear old darling
Representative Jenkins" Just a
dear.
There were other expressions, but
these cover the principal actors in
the days proceedings. Incidentally,
it might be said that Senators Bey-
on of Tof,oo I,
are members of the Committee on
Woman Suffrage, were not present to
face the music. Senator owen was
emphatically present, for he made
one of his impassioned speeches and
filled the atmosphere with eloquence
for the women at the hearing in the
House committee room.
1t was an imposing crowd that
took possession of the House and SEN
ate. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, of
New York, the international president
of the Suffragists' Association, and
the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, of
Philadelphia, president of the Ameri-
can Suffragists, led the procession.
When they reached the Marble Room
they found Senator Clay awaiting
them. He wore Senatorial habila-
ments and strained smile.
Ladies, he said, and bowed low
as they streamed into the room.
Mrs. Gait denounced the lack of
attendance of members of the COM
mittee,
"Never since we have been coming
here" she said, "have there been
more than two or three Senator's pres
ent to hear us,
Her indignation was contagious.
Senator Clay was saved by the timely
arrival of Senator Johnston, who
ambled in with the air of martyr
going to the stake
What we women are asking for,
said Mrs. Gait, is every bit as con-
stitutional as the acknowledgment of
the negro. You don't want us to go
to the negro and beg him to give us
a voice in this free Government, do
you? Then give us some hope of
Congressional action looking toward
constitutional amendment.
Senator Clay looked impressed with
the solemnity of the declaration. I'm
der the table he held tightly to the
coattails of Johnston, who showed
signs of boiling.
Clay baked his attempt at flight.
When the Senate was about to con-
vene, Senator Clay sought to usher
the suffragists out in true Southern
style. He failed. Then Sergeant-at-
Arms Ransdell was called He did
his best to be tactful, but his name
really should be added to the poH
list, for every one of the visitors said
he was perfectly horrid."
The hearing before the House Com
mittee on Judiciary was in charge OF