The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-03

The f~orty-fourth annual conven.
ton of the National American Wom-
an Suffrage association which ended
its sessions in Philadelphia city a few
days ago. was the greatest convention
ever held by the association. Great
est In many respects. The convention
met under the inspiration Of four new
states added to the column of those
won for woman suffrage. and the f1rst
blue flags Of the association appeared
with ten stars in the field-that now
being the number of states. If Michi-
gan remains in the list. in which wom-
en- vote at national and state cleo
tons. The woman suffrage states now
are Utah. Wyoming. Colorado. Wash
ington. Idaho. California. Michigan.
Kansas. Arizona and Oregon. Most
encouraging reports We're made to the
convention by delegates from New
York. Pennsylvania. Delaware, New
Jersey. Nevada and other states. ana
the leaders confidently expect each an
nual convention following congress
sional and national elections to. re-
states added until the movement has
spread and taken over all states in
the union.
To Hasten by Amendment.
1t is planned when t%wo-thirds of
the states have voted woman suffrage
to ask for a constitutional amendment
to hasten the completion of the work
Of h association by extending the
franchise to ONE in all the remain
ing states at one time.
lnasmuch as woman suffrage has
been met with derision and has not
received a respectful hearing in some
have naturally been trained until they
now are competent to take care Of
themselves. and while determined
fighters on the stump they are COM
petent legislators. being amenable to
discipline while sitting in convention
and readily yielding to the enforce
ment OF parliamentary rules. The
delegates came to the convention to
contest over some Of the most mo-
mentous issues aver raised in the or
g~anization. but although the convic-
lions of the women were strong on the
points at issue. DIR. Anna Howard
Shaw. president and presiding officer
had no difficulty in enforcing her rul-
lngs. 1t should be stated in passing
that Miss Shaw Is an able parliament
tartan. Her decisions throughout the
though she courted appeals from the
chairman urging the delegates on sew
eral occasions If they differed with her
10 take such appeals. there was no
to such measures.
Miss S1law's Methods.
While the fairness Of Miss Shaw in
her rulings was recognized. she con-
stantiy prompted the convention on
methods of procedure. In congress,
legislatures and conventions it Is the
practice of the presiding officer. when
ne desires a motion to he made, to
summon Il lieutenant from the floor
and sugRcs it. but Miss Shaw fire.
quently stated to the convention that
IN her Judgment a certain motion
should be made and would add that If
one Of the delegates desired to be rec
ognized for that purpose she would be
given the floor. No protests whatever
were caused. by this assumption of
control.
Never has Il national convention of
the association met with AS many mo-
mentous Questions demanding solu-
ton. a great volume of protest had
been raised within the national organ
'zation by Miss Jane Adams IF chi
"a"o allyn" herself with tho fortunes
OF a political partv. Vt was charged
that unlcss Miss Addan1s was rensur-
ed and q constitutional amentment
adopted prohibiting officers and mcm-
hers Of the association from partici-
rating in partisan politics the organ
iZation would go to rack and ruin.
When the vote was taken it disclosed
that there had been a tempest about
nothing in the judgment Of the dele
gates. because. while the debate was
prolonged and the argument heated.
the convention divided $50 to 80 in
support Of Miss Adams. 1t may now
he expected that there will be much
more general participation in partisan
politics by oficers and members Of the
association.
Having decided this question the