New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-18
DISCUSS BELMONT GIFT.
Suffragists Both for and Against
It's Acceptance.
DAY DEVOTED TO CAUCUSES
Miss Forbes Robertson, of Eng
land, Addresses Meeting
Other Speeches.

IT'ron Tho Tribune Bureau
Washington. April 1.-THE delegates 10
the convention ~ tho National American
Woman Suffrage Association devoted to-day
10 caucuses and board meetings. the main
subject Of discussion being the proposal of
Ms O. II. p Belmont 20 contribute $500
month 20 the work az the association on
condition that IL shall be used for specified
purposes This matter Will not be finally
settled unju a legal contract has been
drawn up and signed by the executive
board. and therefore the way is stin open
fo- the refusal OF the gift. AS the admin
ist~ation is supporting the Belmont alliance
end the opposition is against ii. the matter
Is closely bound Up with the election which
takes place tomorrow. and with the future
policy OF the organization
Mrs John r. Henderson. widow of eK-
Speaker Henderson. entertained the officers
az the association al luncheon. and Senator
enc Mrs. la Toilette entertained Miss Bea-
trioe Forbes Robertson. OF England.
Miss Forbcs- Robertson addressed a mass
meeting AZ the Belasco Theatre IN the az
ternoon, and said that arguments against
woman suffrage were mostly cloaks to hide
tho one real objection. which is a senti-
mental opinion Of what the position of
woman should De.
"The world" she said. has got an acas-
ian IDEA Of woman which is embodied in
the lines:
coldy locks cody Looks wilt thou he mine?
Thou shalt not wash dishes yet feed the
swine.
But So or a cushion and sew up a seam.
Ana teec upon Strawberries sugar and cream.
You cannot kin this idea with facts or
logic. You can only drive ii out by putting
something more beautiful in its place"
Rabbi Abrau simon offered praver az the
beginning OF the meeting, which was pre-
sided over by the Rev. Anna Howard
Shaw. Laura Clay. Of Kentucky, told the
women thar what they needed was new
element of character. courage. Harriet
May Wills, OF New York, spoke OF the
troubles 81 The sufragists in the New York
Legislature
Miss Forbes Robertson and Ella Seass
Stewart OF Chicago. gave a classification
81 the opponents 81 woman suffrage. Char
lotte Perkins Gilman wrote some poetry
IN behalf Of the cause on the stage. while
the Others spoke. and then read IL with
the explanation, not that she meant 10
reflect on those who had preceded her. but
that none might go away and say they had
heard nothing new on the subject
The British and American classification
OF opponents was radically different Ac-
cording 10 the British speaker they were
really divided into TWO Classes-those who
are prejudiced against the movement. and
those who believe II inexpedieut to give
suhrage 10 women. While touching on the
subject Of eXpediency. the speaker said IL
was neither necessary nor expedient for
American women to go 10 Jail in behalf
CT the cause.
Inc American classification puts the op-
ponents into three classes, designated as
the ghosts. the owls or hooters and the
compliment sinners. Among some OF the
ghosts feared. according 10 the speaker
We're The ghost only bad women would
vote the one that the women would de-
prive the men Of their darling vices, that
the women would 90 nothing else but vote.
that they would not vote at all
Another figure in the meeting was Har-
riet Taylor Upton. Of Ohio. AS treasurer
OF the association she took Up a collection.
protesting, however, that her puritanic
training led her 10 object 10 working on
sunday.