The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-19
M { R ELY DEVICE
FOR vOTE-GETT|NG
Mrs. Harper Says Colonel Is In
sincere in Advocating Woman
Suffrage.

New York. June ls.-Colonel Roose-
vclts announcements that ne Is in
favor OF woman Suffrage and that nc
VIII try 10 have plank In the Repub-
Hcan platform favor!ng It II he is nom
mated has been met here with retec-
ton. as IT was in Ohio. Mrs. Ida
Hustled Harper, who recently resigned
as chairman Of the press committee OF
the suffrage party, has come out with
an attack on the ex-Presdents con-
version. and She attributes the change
solely to his aim tG secure the votes
of women In six Western States which
are strongly Republican. Against his
latest announcement for the suffrage
movement Mrs Harper recalls his for
mer statements and his refusal to even
consider tho question when IL was
brought before him BY suffrage leaders.
Mrs. Harper says in a letter:
Women in the Far West may be so
carried away by that spirit OF insur-
2ency which dominates the men of
those States as to be blind TO Mr.,
Roosevelt's record on the woman suf-
frage question while President. but It
Is clear and we'll remembered by those
east of the Mississippi River. 1t is in
exact line With his record on the tariff
"a blank During his seven and a half
years in the presidency he never ut
tered one word that could help thuse
who were striving for the franchise,
although every appeal was made TO him
that was humanity possible. Miss Su-
san b. Anthony herself. at the age OF
eighty-sik. just a few months before
her death. and before the end of his
second term laying her hand on his
arm and looking beseechingly into his
eyes, begged him in his last MESA &c
to Congress to write just one sentence
IN favor OF recognizing woman's claim
to voice In the government and he
would not do it. 4Afterward officers of
the national association, Mrs. Upton
among tnem made their plea and
asked him II petition ~ 1000 900
names would influence him. Not one
particle he answered. brusquely, and
dismissed them with much discourtesy
MIR. Roosevelt's article in the Out
look the sufTragists regard as an in
suit, beginning as it did: Il DO not
regard the movement as anything like
as important as either it's extreme
friends or extreme opponents think
1t is SO much less important than
many other reforms that 1 have new
er been able to take n very headed
interest In it.
That was four months ago. How
does 1t happen that all of n sudden
he has become SO 'het up that he
wants to make a campaign for tho
presidency on platform containing
is very simple. At the November
election nearly a million and n half
women Will be entitled to vote in six
States that are normally Republican
Wyoming, Colorado, Utah. Idaho.
Washington and California. The moro
prominent among them have ANNOUNCE
ed that they will give first consider
alton to the candidates position on
the question of woman suffrage. In
five other states, also normally Re-
publican-Oregon, Kansas. Wisconsin.
Michigan, Ohio (possibly lew Hamp-
shire)--campaigns Will be in progress
for woman suffrage constitutional
amendments. and such Office as the
woman have naturally will be given
TO the candidate who Is on their side.
Mr.. Roosevelt Is too shrewd a poli-
tician not to SEQ this opportunity.
president Taft has failed 20 recognize
IT, although at heart he Is much more
favorable to woman outrage than
Ar Roosevelt"