New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-20
SUFFRAC|STS PLEASED
Senators and Representatives
Attentive to Arguments.
BOTH SIDES WERE HEARD
Closing Session Held Behind
Closed Doors Because OF
Excitement.
From The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. April 1s.--For forty years
longer than the children of Israel wandered
I'm the wiIderness-as the Rev Anna How
ard Shaw. president o. tho National
Woman Suffrage Association. told the Sen
ate Committee on Woman Suffrage yes
terday morning, tho women who want to
vote have been coming to Congress with
their petitions
No one after the two hearings this morn
ing-one before the Senate committee and
the other before the Judiciary Committee
Of the House-seemed to be Of the opinion
that the wandering was nearly over, but il
was the universal testimony OF the dele5a-
tion that the Wilderness had grown arpre-
cisbly less dreary.
The legislators with scarcely an eScep-
ton, were all courtesy and consideration
and apparent interest. and no one said any
thing about bygones. The Judiciary Com
mittee. where Richard Wayne Parker pre-
sided. was particularly cordial. The mem
bers asked SO many questions and seemed
so anxious to hear what the women had TO
say that the time was extended far beyond
the hour which had been set for adjourn
ment. In closing. Mr.. Parker said that
whatever might be thought of woman
suffrage. he wanted to thank the women
for what they had done for the betterment
OF society.
The suffrage delegation was headed by
Mrs. Florence Kelley 81 New York, and
among the speakers were Mrs. Raymond
Robbins, president CT the National
Women's Trade Union League; Miss Grace
Shadlsn, OF New FORK, president of the
marlborough Associat ton Of Woman Lead
ers; Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton. of Ohio;
Mrs. James L. I.aiGlaw, Of New York.
chairman of the Woman Suffrage party Of
Manhattan. and Arthur Holder. of New
York, of the American Federation of
Labor
The anti brief having dwelt upon the
danger of admitting a non-hghtng body
to the electorate. one Of the members
wanted to know what women could do in
return for the ballot. since they could not
bear arms
I'VE bear all the soldiers al tho risk Of
our lives" answered Mrs Kelley.
Mrs. Upton urged the committee Ia re-
port the bill either fsvOrsbly or unfavor-
ably.
Mrs. Shaw before the senate committee
on woman suffrage. also begged for re-
port, favorable" she said. ''if YOU can,
but unfavorahle if YOU must"
Albert J. Beveridge, Of Indiana, was the
only member absent from the committee.
and Senator &. q. Smith. of North caro-
lima. though not a member. had sufficient
interest in the subject to sit through the
hearing. Senator Alexander :. clay. Of
Georgia, presided and the other members
present were Joseph F. Johnson. of Ala
hama; Elmer J. Burkett. of Nebraska. and
George /. Uetmore. of Rhode Island.
The chairman i'm closing the hearing
thanked the women for their admirable
arguments" and said he hoped the COM
mittee would soon report favOrably or IN
favorably.
The closing session Of the convention
held in :te afternoon and soon became
SO heated that it was turned into an execu-
tive session and the doors closed. This
was at 5:i5 O'Clock and when the doors
were opened again Miss Shaw came out.
with a white. drawn face and supported on
either side by her friends. Al the same
time Professor Frances Squire Potter came
forth. saying dramatically. Now I am
free woman"
Tho cause Of the uproar had been the
resolution. presented by Mrs. Kelley yester-
day in which the thanks of the convention
were rendered 10 Professor Potter and Pro-
fessOr Mary Grey Peck, the resolution hav
ing been signed by every one but the presi-
dent. The resolution was adopted after
stormy debate which even the closed doors
could not keep private. and then the vice
president and the treasurer. Mrs. Rachel
Foster Avery and Mrs. Harriet TAYLOR Upton,
resigned. They We're induced 10 reconsider
and promised to serve for d month. This
was the elimination of 4 divergence be
tween Mrs. Potter and Miss shaw. which
hgEn a