The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-15
Neat Rebuke Is Administer
ed to the Woman Suf-
frage Delegates
TAFT'S VIEWS ARE NOT
At ALL LIKED BY WOMEN
Woman Suffrage Meeting Opens in the
City of Washington and Reports
Are Presented BY Officers of
the Organization

Washington. April 14.-The President
of the United States. the first chief
executive of the nation ever to greet
a convention of women suffragists,
braved the danger today OF facing
an army of women who want the bal
lot, had the courage to confess his
opinion and was hissed. So great was
The throng that sought admission to
the hall that hundreds were turned
away.
President Taft was welcoming to
Washington the delegates to the con
vention of the National American Wom-
an Suffrage association. He had frank
ly told them that he was not alto
gether in sympathy with the suffrage
movement and was explaining why he
could not subscribe fully to its prin-
ciples. He said he thought one of the
dangers in granting suffrage to wom-
en- was that the women as a whole
were not interested in it. and that the
power of the ballot as far as woman
is concerned would be controlled by
the less desirable class" When these
words fell from the Presidents lips
the walls of the convention hall echoed
chorus of feminine Kisses. 1t was
no feeble demonstration of protest. The
combined Kisses sounded as if a valve
on a steam engine had broken.
President Taft stood unmoved on the
platform during the demonstration of
hostility--for the kissing continued but
moment-and then smiling as ho
spoke, he answered the .unfavorabie
greeting with this retort
Tsft'x Rebuke
Now, my dear ladies, you must show
yourselves capable of suffrage by ex-
ercising that degree of restraint which
is necessary in the conduct of govern
ment affairs by not hissing."
The women who had Missed were re-
buked. The Presidents reply appar
emily had taken hold. There were no
more Kisses while the President con-
tinued his address, which he character
lied as my confession" on the wom
an suffrage question At the conclu
sion of his talk he was enthusiastically
applauded and some of the leaders of
the convention expressed to him their
sincere regret over the unpleasant in
cident. President Taft assured them
that he had not had his feeling in
1ure0 In the least.
II am not entirely certain" said the
President. after he had been courteous
ly presented to the convention by Rach-
ael Foster Avery, vice president of the
association. that l ought to have come
here tonight, but your committee which
invited me assured me that l should
be welcome even If 1 did not support
all the views which are to be advanced
in this convention. But | consider
that this movement represents a suf-
fcient part of the intelligence of the
community to justify my coming here
and welcoming you to Washington"
Convention Opens
When DIR. Shaw's gavel fell. calling the
convention of the National Woman's Suf-
frage association to order, the delegates
were warmly welcomed to the national
capitol by local suffragists. AS the first
act of business the report of the COM
mittee on church work was read by
Chairman Mary Z. Craige, who said the
committee during the past year had en-
deavored TO induce clergymen and church
people to make a study of the moral and
ethical side of the woman suffrage ques-
tor and of its relation to the moral and
social reform of the churches.
Rachel Foster Avery presented the re-
port of the committee on petition to
Congress. The petition advocating the
enfranchisement of, women will be hand
Ell to the nauonai lesisiatuie "i'Hih
few days.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait. president
OF the International Suffrage Alliance.
SAID the petition probably would be pre-
sented to Congress Monday and the dele
gates would be given hearing Tues
day.
Mary Gray Peck. headquarters secre-
tary, read her report for the year.
Miss Peck's Report
crHraoa litaroture in the hook stores
on the news stands. and in every other
place where other literature is found, Is
one of the plans of the national propa-
ganda, the convention was told today
in Miss Pecks report The necessity OF
a suffrage photography and a series of
new scientific statistical publications. the
secretary urged as one of the greatest
needs OF the educational feature of the
couse.
During the last year more than half
million leaflets. and booklets have car
red the doctrines of woman Suffrage FAR
and wide through the machinery OF the
national headquarters, the secretary re-
ported, and 1t has been found that the
majority of people who call for the print
ed matter are willing to pay small
charge for It.
Miss Peck declared it had been found
that the circulation of suffrage itera-
turo had increased since the FREQ dis
consistent. organized. persistent campaign
OF education and publicity. Miss Peck
asserted, would win the cause for the
women with absolute certainty with the
least expenditure of time, money and
energy.
Representative A. W. Rucker of Colo
RADIO, one of the four states where wo-
men vote, and who is a delegate to the
convention. addressed the convention
this afternoon.
Anti-Rooscvelt Ideas
"Ten years hence to be the father of
10 or 12 children will be as much of a
disgrace as being q confirmed drunkard
is at present" today declared Mrs. Lo-
rein Helen Baker of Spokane WASH, a
suffragette who will be heard along orig
inal lines of thought at the convention
OF the National Women Suffrage associa-
ton. which opened in this city today.
Her studies of children all over the
world, she said, had convinced her that
CONTINUED ON PAGE ~