New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-23
SUFFRAG|STS WRANCLE
OVER THE UNIT RULE
Parliamentary Move Forces Its
Adoption Amid Protests at
National Convention,
WEST BENT ON FIGHTING
Move to Bar Members from Par
tisan Politics a Blow Aim
at Jane Addams's Presi-
Dental Candidacy.
rsy r.,erraph to The Tribune

rBy Telegraph 70 The Tribunel
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 22.-The second DAY
session Of the convention OF the Nation".
Voroen's Suffrage Association developed
the first sign Of factional differences
The effort of the members from the fa-
cifc Coast TO secure recognition on the
hoard Of directors and on the standing
committees was one OF the principal mat
tiers under discussion.
There was a caucus tonight OF the
members OF all the delegations west OF
the Ohio River, and they decided that IN
the convention tomorrow they would Try
10 secure the recognition which they say
is due them. They point out that they
have been the only members Of the asso-
citation who have ever succeeded IN realiy
accomplishing anything.
The adoption Of the unit rule by the as
ISOLATION was due largely to the par
Hamentary efforts OF Miss Harriet May
Mills, of New York who adroitly obtained
the support Of the requisite five states
I'm invoking it. In this she was supported
by Miss NJ Cary Thomas.
From all parts OF the hall, and from
Illinois especially, there was protest
but the chairman said that she was
guided by the constitution, and must de-
clare the unit vote as the vote OF the
convention, since FIVE states supported IT.
After considerable discussion OF the pro-
posal of the Mills-Thomas coalition, 1t
was decided as a compromise that the
INIT rule be invoked on the more i'm
portant amendments to the constitution
and not on the minor ones.
The question Of removing the mead
quarters from New York was settled by
another soothing amendment providing
that the word permanent be stricken
from that article i'll the constitution which
makes New York the national headquar-
ters
Unit Rule Bitterly Fought.
The application Of the unit rule was
question bitterly fought The South came
TO the support Of the East, and valniy
did the officers Of the convention, mostly
Eastern women, try to influence de-
Gliding voice. The West was firm In It's
p,irnose to win the nrst sklrmish in the
battle that is TO come.
Even the voice Of Jane Adams failed.
She spoke for q moment in the height OF
the fray in favor Of the vote by delegates
To the Eastern delegates and TO those or
Virginia Jane Addams's words appeared
partial and brought forth q storm of pro-
test 1t was the only moment Of the en-
tire days session when disorder appeared
imminent. A score Of Western women
were on their feet in moment loudly
crying for recognition and all striving TO
sneak at once.
Blow at Jane Adams.
The question Of amending the constitu-
ton was another vital point discussed,
but action upon It was postponed until
tomorrow. Among the chief amendments
Of national interest was one which Will
prohibit officers or even members Of the
association from taking sides in partisan
politics except in states where equal suf-
frage exists.
This was directed particularly at Miss
Jane Adams, as some of the members
have openly criticised her work at the
Progressive convention in Chicago Others
who are opposed TO the movement to
name her as president to succeed DR..
Anna Shaw thought that by such re-
buke they could effectually end the
Adams boom for the presidency.
Miss NJ. Carey Thomas of Bryn Mawr,
introduced a resolution, in the form OF an
amendment, that extra funds be raised by
taxing subsidiary state organizations so
each a year, and 10 cents apiece for
every member up to 5000. These organi-
cations would be allowed more delegates
in return, the resolution pointed out.
-
leader in the Southern suffrage move
ment. protested, saying that many Of tho
Southern state organizations were too
poor TO pay such a tax, and would have
20 drop out Of the national association.
The resolution was sidetracked and will
be considered by a subcommittee of five.
The report Of the ways and means COM
mittee, Of which Miss Thomas is chair
man, showed that deficit of A.779 exists
in the national treasury, due principally
TO the official organ THE Woman's Jour
nal" the contract for which was discon.
tinued in October.
Mrs Oliver II. P. Belmont, president
of the Political Equality Association, of
New York, took her place with the New
York delegation to-day.
Mrs. Belmont sees victory.
While somewhat guarded about predict
ing the victory of suffrage in New York
and Pennsylvania as early as 1915, as
some have done, Mrs. Belmont declared
that the Western States had given a big
impetus to the movement, and that in
evitably victory in the East is assured.
Il don't like TO guess; 1 like to do
r,oTr
She explained that her first real interest
in the movement had been aroused three