The Washington herald., 1910-04-15

Kisses and boots Of disapproba-
ton greeted President Taft in his
speech before the National Ameri-
can Woman Suffrage Association
at the Arlington Hotel last night.
The open discourtesy 70 the
Chief Executive came without
warning, and furnished a scene IN
paralleled in the history OF the
United States.
President Taft had just spoken
of the dangers attending woman
suffrage, in the use of the ballot by
desirable and undesirable elements,
when the outburst came.
DANGER IN NEGLECT.
TT seems TO me-" said he. that the
danger is. If the power is conferred. that
it may be exercised by that part OF the
class least desirable as political consutu-
ents. and be neglected by many OF those
who are intelligent and would be most
desirable as members Of the electorate"
II was at the words least desirable"
thar the sufrragettes began 10 hiss and
hoot and the remainder OF the sentence
was almost drowned in the outburst.
From every part OF the hall militant
sunTagettes. probably 30 in number.
voiced their disapproval Of the Presidents
opposing arguments
President Taft was visibly affected, and
after the demonstration had subsided he
administered a mild rebuke 10 his op-
ponents
Now. my dear ladies'" said the Presi-
dent, you must show yourselves equal
10 seIf-government by exercising. in listen
ing 10 opposing arguments. that degree
OF restraint without which self-govern-
ment is impossible"
No Interruption Followed.
Spontaneous applause greeted this ut
terance Of the President, and he con-
tinued his speech without interruption.
He left the hall Immediately upon the
conclusion Of his address.
Omcers OF the association deny that
the insult was offered the President by
sunragettes, claiming that it was the
work Of outsiders in the rear Of the hall.
Interested spectators in that part OF the
hall say the hissiPg and hooting swept
the entire assembly. being manifested
most decidedly in the center OF the au-
dience.
1t is probable that a letter Of apology
or explanation Will be sent TO the Presi-
denF before the convention adjoJrns. .
Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, president OF
! the association, said last night: 1T was
not our people who hissed and hooted.
The demonstration started over there
! ,pointing to a side aisle. and was made
by persons whom I recognized as out
siders.
/ Mrs Martha Wentworth Sufferin. a
prominent suffragist of New York, was
deeply grieved over the unpleasant Incl
/ dent 1t was such a great thing for us
20 have tho President here 20 make an
address" said she. such a demOnstra-
/ ton IS the more reCrettable. To me il
appeared as if the kissing started In the
rear of the hall. I do not know If mem
{ bers Of the convention participated IN
the display Of feeling. I sincerely hope
I that some action will be taken in the
matter by the convention and a letter OF
apology or explanation will be sent TO
/ the President
i Ashamed Of Sex.
/ I'm ashamed OF my sex" said a prom
/ inent newspaper woman. who was at the
convention and witnessed the demonstra-
ton against President Taft. This senti-
ment was expressed by other conserva-
/ tive suffragettes who deplore the Incl
dent
THAT demonstration did not start in
the back Of the hall. but in the midst OF.
the delegates" was the emphatic state
ment OF J. W. Nye. OF Langdon D. c,
who occupied a seat near the door. 1T
was spontaneous outburst Of feeling
against the Presidents statements by
the suffragists. Several hundred in every
part Of the hall joined in the kissing and
hooting"
/ The Presidents speech, as a whole. was
/ regarded by Miss Shaw as favorable 20
the cause of wonan suffrage. While
! President Taft said he was a woman SUI
/ fragist at the age of sixteen. but later
/ changed many OF his Views, the women
/ Of the convention. through the president.
! expressed the sentiment thar his address
was entirely favorable to their cause.
The Presidents speech is a speech in
favor of woman suffrage" said Miss
Shaw after the President had concluded
Continued on Page IL, Column 4.