New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1910-04-20
President Taft Addresses SUI
tTage Convention.
DISAPPROVE OF HIS ADDRESS
Delegates Hiss Chief Executive S
Welcoming Remarks.

WdSuluSLOu, April #lO.--fT0S1O0uL9
Taft was Kissed at the convention of
the National Woman Suffrage associa-
ton here. The disapproval 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.
sderstanding of the presidents words.
Where it 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-
-vention 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 unreservedly in
dorse woman suffrage. The president
was at once introduced and spoke for
about ten minutes He told how as a
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
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 determine 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:
.The theory that Hottentots or any
uneducated, altogether unintelligent
class is prepared for self-government
at once, or should Immediately take
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
| class should care enough for it's own
interests to take part in the exercise
of political power if it is conferred
| upon it. If it does not then it seems
to me that there is danger that the
power conferred may be exercised by
| that part of the class least desirable.
| It was at this point that the presi
dent was Kissed. The interruption die
not discomfort him.
| The president proceeded to welcome
the convention to Washington. L
congratulated he delegates upon thei
earnestness and highmind edness ant
asked indulgence if he disagreed no
in principle but in the application o
it to the present situation
When the president had concluded
he shook hands with Rev. Dr. Ann;
Howard Shaw, president of the assc
citation, and other leaders. He thel
left, accompanied by his military aide
Captain Archibald Butt. The dele
gates rose as the president was es
i corted from the hail. At the conclu
sion of the session many of the dele
gates expressed themselves as humi
lated over the kissing incident.