The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-15
Women Evince Their
Displeasure at Presi-
dents Remarks.
SMILING REBU.KE
is ADMINISTERED
For First Time Chief Executive
Greets Suffrage Convention
and, Facing Army of Women,
Refuses to Subscribe to
Its Principles-Leaders
Express Regret.

Washington, ID. C., April 14.-The
President of the United states, tho
first chief executive of the nation ever
10 greet n convention of woman snif-
rngista, brnved the danger tonight
of facing an nrn'S of women who want
the ballot, had the courage to confeas
his opinion, ana WIS Kissed.
SO great was the throng that sought
admission to the hall that hundreds
were turned away.
President Taft was welcoming to
Washington the delegates to the con-
Venton of the National Woman Suff-
rage Association He had frankly told
them that he was not altogether In
sympathy with the suffrage movement.
and was explaining why he could not
subscribe fully to It's principles. He
said he thought one of the dangers
in granting suffrage to women was
that the power OF the ballot. as far as
woman is concerned. would be con-
trolled by the Tess desirable class
Chorus of Kisses.
When these words fell from tho
Presidents lips. the walls of the cons
vention hall echoed chorus of fem-
mine Kisses. 1t was no feeble der-
onstration of protest. The combined
Kisses sounded as If valve on q
steam engine had broken.
President Taft stood unmoved on
the platform during the denonstra-
tion of hostility-for the kissing con-
tinued but a moment-and then. snil-
ing as he spoke. he answered the un-
favorable greeting with this retort
NO, my dear ladies. you must show
yourselves capable of suffrage by eN-
ercising that degree of restraint which
is necessary in the conduct OF gov
ernment affairs by not Kissing.
The women wit had Kissed were re-
! bulssd The Presidents reply ap-
/ parently had taken hold. There we're
i no moro misses while the President
! continued his address. which he char
| acterized as my confession" on the wo-
| man suffrage question. AT the conclusion
| of his talk he was enthusiastically ap-
| plauded, and some of the leaders OF
the convention expressed to him their
| sincere regret over the unpleasant In
cident. President Taft assured them
that he had not had his feelings In
iured in the least.
Coming Justified.
at am not entirery certain" said the
President after he had been courteous
ly presented to the convention by
Rachel Foster Avery. vice-president
of the association, that | ought to
have come here tonight, but YOUR
committee. which invited me. assured
me that should be welcome even IL
I didn't support all the views which
are to be advanced in this convention.
But / consider that the movement
represents a sufficient part OF the in-
te!ligence of the community to JUS
tifv, my coming here and welcoming
you to Washington.
s.If | could be sure the President
continued. that women as class
would exercise the franchise l would
be in favor of 1t. At present there
exists in my mind considerable doubt.
In certain States which nave trled
the experiment. States in the Rocky
Mountains where there is no great
concentration of population to cope
with, equal suffrage has not been
failure 1t has not made, 1 think, any
distinct differences. though 1T Is pos
sible 10 say that 1t has shown soma
Improvement in the conduct OF pup-
lie affairs. Permit me to say that
the task before you in establishing,
your political rights is not In con-
vincing your own class
Confession OF Faith.
"That is my confession of faith on
ihis subject. l am glad to welcomh
you here. and recognize you as class
of women earnest in your desire tor
political recognition. and earnest and
high-minded in the cause OF good
government. Even if l disagree with
You not in principle. but in the APP
plication of it to the present sltua-
ton, l hope you will not deem mo
ungracious in saying as much as
have came here with the under-
standing by your committee not 70 sun-
scribe to all you advocate. trust
your convention is all you nope TOT.
and / know that 1t cannot De put pro-
ductive of good.
When the President had concluded he
shook hands with Rev. Anna Howard
shaw. president OF the association,
and other leaders He then left,
At the conclusion of the session
MANY OF tho delegates expressed
themselves as humliated over the
kissing incident Miss Esizapeth
Hauser. of New York. said;
"I think the demonstration was OUT
rageous, OF course. the President did
not make good woman suffrage
speech. but we regret exceedingly the
Kisses"
Onicers OF the association expressed
deep regret that the President OF tho
United states should have been treated
80 deplorably," But they pointed to
the fact that majority or tho
audience was HNdue UP ol ouNSftStts.
not delegates to The convention. and
claimed that the former We're respon-
sinlo for the Kissing
Report OF Committee,
Rachel Foster Avery presented the
report of the committee on petition
To Congress. The p.tition, which VIII
be handed 10 the national Legislature
within few days advocating the en-
REIMBURSEMENT OF women, VIII he
the first appeal to Congress by this
method, the report stated, for more
than quarter OF a. century
Mrs, Carrie Chapman Cats. prcstdenss