The Washington times., 1912-03-13
Miss AddamS Leads
Women'S Invasion
Of House Committee

several hundred women made Dig
nified invasion of the big committee
room of the House Judiciary Committee
today and argued for nearly three hours
for wOmans suffrage. Miss Jane Ad-
DANG, of Hull House, Chicago, led the
advancing suffra agists, some of whom
were old in the cause, others of whom
were virtually in their teens.
The big committee room was packed
to the doors and applause was so fire.
Quent, as numerous women orators
pleaded their cause, that Miss Adams
finally had to put the soft pedal on
outbursts of feminine enthusiasm. The
official board of the American Woman
Suffrage Association was in attendance
and a3-sOon as a speaker finished an
argument before the House committee
she was sifted TO the Senate. where
similar hearing was in progress.
T'he speech Of Miss LeonOra o Reilly.
Of New York, was so literally applaud
ed that Miss Adams. heading tho suf-
rrage committee made q request that
the suffragists refrain from expressing
approval of the various speakers.
Speaks for Working Women.
"Tkerc are SOOOOO women who have
10 work in this country" said Miss
ORcilly. yet YOU tell us that our place
ing women, who are over-spceded In
our factories, aye, who are even burned
alive. as in the Triangle tragedy in
New York. We went to the courts and
tried to get something like justice and
failed
"W" ask YOU TO dca! by us as YOU
would be done by. When the working
man comes TO YOU he is listened to, be-
cause he has tn" power of the ballot.
Give to US also that we may right our
wrongs.
Miss Adams Prediction.
Miss Adams told the cOmmitte that
100000 women will vote for the next
President and that 5OO,OOO women have
the municipal franchise.
Mrs. Elsie Cole Phillips, of Milwaukee,
read a statement from Congressman
Victor Berger, who is out of the city.
Mr. Berger declared woman's suffrage
an absolute necessity, especially for the
working woman.
Mrs. William Kent, wife Of Congress-
man Kent of California, was among
good effects of woman's suffrage in
California, she made an eloquent plea
for nationwide votes for women.
Mrs. Jean Nelson Penfeld, of New
York, detailed the eight years fight
of the women of New York city for
an antt-Spitting ordinance.
Mrs. Harper Questioned.
Mrs Ida Harper, long an advocate
of woman's suffrage, and author of a
treatise on the constitutional question
involved. quoted from the recent
speeches Of President Taft and Col.
Theodore Roosevelt, as justifying the
need of the ballot for women.
at has been suggested. Mrs. Harper"
said Chairman Clayton, that you
should explain why you come to Con-
grcss for this legislation when suf-
frage is a matter to be dealt with by
the States. You now have suffrage in
a number Of States"
Mrs Harper CXplained:
1T means forty-eiGht separate fights
if we al peal to each State. We are
told to go before the COnglOmCrate
mass of voters. If a constitutional
amendment is proposed we will have
only to concentrate our arguments
DO YOU prefer to go to the legisla-
tors rather than to the voters in the
States%'asked Congressman Higgins.
well, they are fewer, and they are
supposed to be the picked men of the
States" said Mrs. Harper.
The audience and the committee
laughed outright when, Mrs Harper
used the word supposed
II presume that qualification applies
to members of Congress-that we arc
supposed to he picked men," said
Chairman Clayton.
Yes. sir" said the suffrage advo-
cate.
The only opposition to wOmen's suf-
frage was voiced by Miss Brazil repre-
sentinG the national association OPP
posed to woman's suffrage Miss Brazil,
who lives in Washington, was asked
to present arguments OF the antl-suf-
fragiSts to the House committee She
asserted the movement had a sOCialistiC
tendency and that many of it's advo~
Gates were socialists.