Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-04-21
TALKS TO WOMEN
President Taft Addresses SUI
trage Convention.
DISApPROvE OF HIS ADDRESS
Delegates Hiss Chief Executives
Welcoming Remarks.

Washington, April 15.-President
Taft was Kissed at the convention of
the National Woman Suffrage associa-
tion here. The disapproyal came dur
ing his speech of welcome, and was
most pronounced. He had to wait sew
eral seconds until order was restored
The criticism was due to a misun
Outstanding of the presidents words.
Where 1t occurred the president did
not express an opinion to which even
the most advanced suffragette could
not subscribe. The. speech was ex-
tremely conservative.
The president frankly stated in his
opening remarks that he has hesitated
over the invitation to address the con-
yention and had yielded to the solicit
tation of those enthusiastically inter-
ested in the welfare of the movement.
The large banquet room in the Ar
lington hotel, where the session OF
the convention was being held, was
crowded to the doors. The audience
was composed almost exclusively OF
women. For some reason the presi-
dent was not enthusiastically received.
It may have been because Of a rumor
that he would not unrsservedly in
dorss woman suffrage. The president
was at once introduced and spoke for
about ten minutes. He told how as
boy of sixteen upon graduation he had
chosen for his subject woman suffrage,
and said that at that time he was as
strong as any woman for woman suf-
frage.
in the course of his political expert
ence he said he had modified his
views somewhat The president de-
clared that every set OF individuals in
community who are intelligent
enough to know their own interests
are better qualified to termine how
those interests should be cared for
and preserved than any other class,
however altruistic.
Describes His Conditions.
He described the two conditions he
would impose in granting suffrage
One is that the class should be intel
ligent enough to know it's own inter
ests. Said the president.
1.-THE theory that Hottentots or any
uneducated, altogether uninteligent
class is prepared for selfgovernmen !
at once, or should Immediately take I
part in self-government, is a theory / |
wholly dissent from. But that Is not
applicable TO the present situation. |
The other qualification is that the 1
class should care enough for its own 1
interests to take part in the exercise |
of political power if it is conferred I
upon II. If il does not then ii seems
to me that there is danger that the /
power conferred may be exercised by /
that part OF the class least desirable"
1t was at this point that the presi-
dent was Kissed The interruption did
not discomfort him.
The president proceeded To welcome
the convention TO Washington. 4.
he delegates upon their
earnestness and highmindedness and
asked indulgence IL he disagreed not
N principle but in the application OF
Il TO the present situation"
When the president had concluded
ne shook hands with Rev. DR.. Anna
Howard Shaw, president OF the asso-
station, I'D other leaders. He then
eft, accompanied by his military aide,
Captain Archibald Butt. The dele
gates rose as the president was es-
,orted from the hall. At the conclu-
sion of the session many of the dele
yates expressed themselves as humil-
ated over the kissing incident.