New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-26
MRS. BELMONT MORE IN
SORROW THAN ANGER
Won't Desert "CauSe" Despite
Sad Fate of "Anti-Party"
Resolution.
PRAISES MISS adams
But Suffrage Leader Thinks
Moosette Shouldn't Bring
About Abandonment
of Principles.

Mrs. O. II. p. Belmont has not left the
National woman's Suffrage Association
nor has she withdrawn her financial sup
port of the "cause." when these things
were suggested to her yesterday AFTER
noon she laughed and said:
"oh. those Philadelphia papers! They
like TO make big stories. No, l certainly
have not resigned from the association.
How can T? I'm a life member. AS TOT
Withdrawing financial support, gave
them 1900. That doesn't look much Ike
II, does II? No, we have 10 abide by the
will OF the majority in whatever we do.
We may criticse some things in the as
sociation's policy. but we suffragists have
TO stand together"
Mrs Belmont received the clamorous re-
porters yesterday afternoon at her suf-
frage headquarters. at No. II East hst
street, In q state Of considerable excite
ment. She who is usually so shy OF tho
press, so guarded in all her statements.
sat there and for nearly an hour Jus.
poured forth the anguish OF her soul con-
corning the doings in Philadelphia. For
all that she vowed at the end OF the
hearing that she would not desert the
couse. It was evident that she didn't ap-
prove at all. Like the mother OF the
naughty child, she said to the convention:
II love you, OF course, but / don't love
your actions"
II was all about the resolution forbid
ding political partisanshlp on the part OF
officers OF the National Woman Suffrage
Association. the resolution, which was
supported by Mrs. Belmont, Mrs Ida
Hustled Harper and mere handful OF
other he-oines, and was defeated by
practically the whole convention.
They were simply swept off their feet
by n wave OF emotionalism," explained
this woman who had stood out against
host. "They put their great admira-
ton for Miss Jane Adams. and their
fear that she would regard this resolu-
ton as a criticism OF her actions ahead
OF their old traditions, their principles.
They were afraid she would resign her
position as yice-presdent, just at this
time when she is so much needed, and
they just forgot all about their principles
I'm the excitement OF paying tribute to
her. II was absolutely personal. No
other woman but Jane Adams could
have carried that convention against all
its officers and it's old leaders. \ woman
with less reputation would have been
overwhelmingly defeated. As II was, the
opposltion was so small II was positively
silly.
Now, I have great admiration for Miss
Adams myself / consider her one OF
the greatest women OF the country. We
need such big women in the suffrage
cause, but II every great woman who
Joins us is 10 sweep the association away
from It's established traditions, what VIII
become OF US?
Miss Adams was not our only example.
She worked for the Progressive party.
Two other national officers worked for the
socialists Mrs. Harper and | used them
for our examples. They sent out suf-
frage literature in the name of the as
ISOLATION last spring bearing stickers
about the Lawrence strike. They bought
four thousand OF these stickers. calling
on people TO protest against the imprison-
meht OF Ettor and Giovanntu. Protests
came from all over the country. Mrs
Harper heard OF IL, and sent word 10
DR.. Shaw, who was then In oregon. She
ordered II stopped. and Il was. Of course.
Miss Ashley and Mrs. bennett ad-
mtted before the convention that they
had done this thing, but said they didn't
mean any harm. They did II for human
lty! Now, It is all right for us suffragists
TO be humane, but we don't want 10 be
put ia the position OF criticislng the courts
OF the land. Whether the Lawrence
strike leaders were guilty or innocent
was not for us to say. or course, you
know that personally l have much SYM
pathy for them.
We'll. even II the whole convention
did oppose me, have one supporter. I
saw Mrs Sllzer to-day and she told me
the Governor elect strongly Endorsed my
position.
Last summer. too, the Progressive
party made advances to me. I consulted
my best advisers, legal and otherwise.
and was warned TO take no stand for
any political party"
Don't you think that Miss Adams
was chosen by the Progressives Just be-
cause Colonel Roosevelt knew she could
control the sunragists?" some one asked.