The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-04-19
suffragists Present Their Petitions Of
Half Million Names Asking
the Right to
Vote
IoWANs FRIGHTENED
Procession Of Women in Taxicabs
Rolls up Capitol Hill and Swarm
Like Bees into the
Building.

WASHINGTON, April 19.--With
banners afloat, finery afiutter and oc-
cupying procession of taxicabs near
ly mile long, the suffragists in con-
vention here moved on Capitol Hill
and presented to congress 100000 in
dividual demands for votes for wom-
en-. The mammoth national petition
was divided into little ones, each tied
with big yellow ribbon and grouped
into little bundles of just the conyen-
lent size for a suffragist to carry un-
der her arm.
Senators and representatives from
every state received some part of that
petition There was no getting out OF
it. Representative Wiley of New
Jersey announced he would refuse to
present the petition of the New Jer-
sey delegation because of the kissing
OF President Taft before the suffra-
gists opening night Of their conven-
tion. So Mary D. Hussey just march
ed I'D to Mr. Wiley and thrust the
petition upon him with the invitation
to do as he liked about 1t. Some OF
the Iowa delegation were frlghtened
when they heard some members of the
house had refused to present the Pc
tition. They sent for Senator Dolli-
yer.
Il would advise those members TO
take a day or and study the consti-
tuition of the United States" declared
the senator as he shouldered an arm
full of petitions.
II constrne that honorable instru-
ment to make the presentation OF
petitions mandatory, but | would pre-
sent them gladly even If no such duty
were imposed upon me-
The women button-holed Admiral
Schley when two OF them hoped on
his taxicah as he passed the parade
while taking his constitutional. One
of them pinned Vote for women
badge on him.
Thank you," he said, 1I'll cooper
ate
Dr. Anna H. Shaw. who had been
reelected president of the National
American Suffrage Association a few
minutes before. rode in the first
automobile. About seventy-tive 9th
ers followed in single file down Penn
sylvania avenue and on to the capitol
Representative Bennett of New
York received 10000 names and tolt
the petitioners he would do all ht
could to start the documents on theil
way"
~ EA1I d1nOhf6r
the progressive Wisconsin senator
hustled up to the senate side to pre-
sent WiscoEsin's petition to her faith
er but found the senate in session
and, according to the order of bus
ness. the petition could not be receiN
ed until later
Senator Borah was easily the ia,
orite in the senate chamber He wa
presented with petitions from tn
District of Columbia, Idaho, Ne'
York, Kansas and Hawaii.
Senator Root is our arch enem
and we couldn't ask Mr. Depav,' dt
clared leader of the Tew York dele
CATION, 80 we had to go way out t
Idaho to get senator to introduc
our petition y
Some women whose family name
have been identified with the caus
of suffrage for generations carried tn
petitions Mrs. Fanny Garrison vi
lizard of New York, daughter of Wi
liam Lloyd Garrison, was one.
AS soon as delegation presente
It's petition there would be rush fo
the senate gallery. The galleries fiji
cd rapidly and there was not room fc
ALL
The crowded senate galleries burs
forth in applause when Senator /
Toilette presented his armful OF p
titions and said:
II hope the time will come whe
this great body Of intelligent peopl
will not find it necessary to petitio
for that which ought to be accorde
as right in country of equal o.
portunity."
The chairman threatened to cies
the gallery if cheering did not ceas
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ThounhtfuI George.