The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-03-25
women BESIEGE NATIONAL CAPITOL, SEEKING SUFFRAGE
Present Arguments Before Senate and House Committees to Show Why
They Should Be Allowed to Vote. =
%OklahOmaS Senator Makes Stirring Speech In EuOU Of the %Sex-Iheif ln1
enCe IS Needed, He Declares, TO Balance the 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 Ju'
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
Sergeant-at-Arms, for it was visibly
impossible for the Senate to deal In
profoundities while the chatter from
across the hall made its way through
the swing doors.
AS a 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-aNasty, con-
ceited young u~pstart."
Senator Burkett-"Rude West.
erner."
Senator Wetmore-"Brute."
Senator Owen-"Dear old darling
Representative Jenkins-"Just a
dear" -a.,
There were other expressions, but
these cover the principal actors in
the days proceedings. Incidentally,
it might be said that Senators BeV-
eridge, Burkett and Wetmore, who
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
It 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 a 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 Senators pres
ent to hear u.s."
Her indignation was contagious,
Senator Clay was saved by the timely
arrival Of Senator Johnston, who
ambled in with the air of a martyr
going to the stake. .
"What we women are asking for,
said Mrs. Gait, ais every bit as con
stitutional as the enfranchisement OF
the negro. You don't want us to &c
to the negro and beg him to give us
a voice in this free Government, dc
you? Then give us some hope OF
Congressional action looking toward
O. 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 wassabout to con-
vene, Senator Clay sought to usher
the s%uffragists 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 poll
list, for every n of the visitors said
he was perfectly horrid."
The hearing before the House Com.
mittee on Judiciary was in charge OF