New-York tribune., 1909-10-14
NOT A SUFFRAGETTE
Mrs. Macbay Takes Stand against
Militant Methods.

The expected visit TO this country OF Mrs. Eune-
line Pankhurst. the leader OF the British suffra'
settes. is having the effect OF bringing 20 head
the differences which have been smouldering %
some extent beneath the surface in the ranks Of
the women who want TO vote ever since the intro
duction Of militant methods in this country
Heretofore the older suffrage organizations havs
eontented themselves with simply ignoring the
militant sisterhood. but the coming OF Mrs. Pank-
hurst seems to call for something more definite
Most OF the conservatives have solved the prob
lem by taking boxes for the mass meeting 20 be
addressed by Mrs. Pankhurst in Carnegie Hall
which does not necessarily commit them 70 sp-
proval of her methods-but Mrs. Clarence Mackayt
president OF the Equal Franchise Society, has re-
fused TO compromise. and will take no part in the
larger suffrage organizations has taken no box for
this meeting, and Mrs. Maekay declined invita-
ton TO introduce Mrs. Pankhurst. At the same
time she has informed Mrs Carrie Chapman Gait.
president Of the Interurban Woman Suffrage Coun-
ell, an ultra-conservative body that she will take
part personally in the convention which that body
is to hold at Carnegie Hall, and in which the suf
frasettes (the National Progressive Woman suf-
frase Union) have refused 10 participate.
Speaking OF her attitude. at her Offices. in the
Metropolitan Life Building yesterday afternoon
Mrs. Mackay said that in view Of the coming Of
Mrs Pankhurst she thought It better that her po-
sitfon In regard to the militant methods should
be made perfectly clear
should have been glad 70 introduce Mrs Panl-
hurst. but as such action my part would GER
tainly have been construed Endorsement OF
militant methods felt could not do IL. I have
nothing 10 say about the use Of such methods in
other countries where conditions may be different
but In the Equal Franchise Society we feel that
In order to secure the Acknowledgement of women
it is not necessary for us to initiate methods
which are being used in other countries Ameri-
can manhood has always treated American woman
hood in a as tn RoaI
shall ultimately achieve our aim without sensa-
tionalism.
''It has been repeatedly said 20 me by men in
public life and mer in private life that when the
women OF the United States unite in demanding
the vote they viii get it. And 7 think that Is
perfectly true. and that therefore what is needed
to further the suffrage Is to give all sorts
and kinds OF women the opportunity OF listening
to speakers who will explain just what the suffrage
Will mean to us ali
Most Of the men have met apparently will
ing to cooperate with US and have listened to
what we have said with courtesy and consideration
1t has not seemed necessary in the past. and I do
not think it will be necessary in the future, for US
to go out 10 the street corners and shrek our
propaganda at the passerby. We have but to
plead our cause without raising voice to those
and women who are not with US. We can
always assume that they are not wiIfully ignorant
Of what woman Suffrage should mean. We want
them to appreciate the fact that throughout this
who devote their bsst energies toward the develop
ing OF their children in order make them citizens
worthy OF great country
Mrs. Mackay added that her society would take
part in the present municipal campaign.
we do not think" she said. that an organ
ization have right to demand an expression
Of opinion from the candidates in this coming elec-
tion- We prefer TO leave politics alone until our
is sharing the responsibility with the other
sex"
Among recent additions to tns rnerpbershi ~ the
Equal Franchise Society Mrs. Mackay mentioned
Mrs. William Schiefelin, Mrs Milton Barger. Mrs
Rudolph Schirmer. Mrs. Archibald Alexander Mrs
Everett Colby. Mrs. Richard Stevens, Mrs Walter
Maynard, Miss Clara Spence. Mrs. Paul Morton,
Miss Elizabeth Burchenai and Miss Dorothy Whit
ney.
Mrs. Harriet Stanton Rlatch. who is engineering
the Pankhurst meeting. is member Of the Equal
Franchise Society, and several of it's members. in
Guiding Mrs. Pearcs Bailey, Miss Spence Mrs
William Wins and Mrs Francis Cabot, have taken
boxes. Other boxholders Mrs. Henry Phipps.
Mrs. Q. II. P. Belmont, Mrs, Robert Abbse and
Mrs J. G. Phelps Stokes