New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-31
DISAGREE ON BOYCOTT
Suffragettes Unanimous, How
ever. in Views on Lawmakers.
THEY AREN'T FlATTERlNG
DRESS Doesn't Matter" Miss
Milholland Says, but Others
Are Not So Sure.

Boycott bonnetS. 70 "ilhout e'o''S'
Down with fine dress.
Is this TO be the war cry OF the suitra-
gettes? Mrs. Despard, Of England. sug-
gests Il: DR.. Anna Howard Shaw OF the
United States. approves II. Other suira-
gettes who were Intercepted yesterday
said they would join such boycott In
minute for the good of the cause. One OF
these was Miss Inez Mlholland.
Mrs Despard's argument is that boy
colt of new bonnets would hurt the trades
men worse than smashing windows.
But Miss Milholland Is thinking more OF
the ethical effect such boycott would
have on the women.
81 am IN favor OF any cooperative ac-
livity on the part of women. anything that
will give us the esprit de corps we need.
she said. IF it is going without bonnets
for the cause. well and good. 1t Is always
good to stand shoulder to shoulder. II
would be educative, prepare us Tor the
vote"
What effect would the bonnet boycott
have on husbands and fathers?' the re-
porter asked.
Would they be so Disguised with their
wives and daughters shabbiness that they
would hurry up and grant the ballot. or
would they be pleased with the economy
and willing to prolong the situation?
II don't know what the effect would be
on the men. But 1t would be good for the
women ! would be ready to join in boy
cotting new clothes. | don't mind about
clothes. don't think it matters what l
veal"
And when one is as young and good look
ing as Miss Milholland, really 1t doesn't
matter But she didn't mean it that way
something ought to be done she con-
tinued. ito make men feel our strength
The defeat of the suffrage bill in Albany
was the worst indictment that has ever
been drawn against the men OF the state
of New York In no other state could such
a piece of political trickery have been ac-
complished."
DR. Shaw believes it would be good
plan for suffra gists TO boycott gloves, etc,
as well as bonnets.
eff all the women would say: No gloves
until the suffrage bill is passed a group of
merchants would be mpressed-a group OF
absolutely Indifferent persons-with oar
commercial Importance" she said. me
same with new gowns and bonnets. Most
of us have an old bonnet we could fix over
Besides impressing the merchants
showing them that are a force to lie
reckoned with, we'd make a great deal OF
money for the cause. We could Ill )ur
Golfers beautifully" said the national presi-
dent, her eyes shining, "by nationwide
boycott of finery for a time"
why, for a good while many Of MS have
been denying ourselves certain things Tor
the cause" said Mrs. James Lees LaidlaW
chairman of the Borough OF Manhattan sor
the Woman Suffrage party, when she was
asked about the boycott. Mrs. Laidla"
thought such boycott would be dread
fully unfair and hard on the perfectly good
suffrage merchants, OF whom there are rot
a few"
I'VE have been wedding out the mer-
chants in the different Assembly districts,
she continued land we boycott all those
who won't advertise in our Woman Voter.
or whom we know 70 be against us. There
are any number OF women In our party
who consistently trade with certain de-
partmont stores. florists. milliners, etc, be-
cause they have been courteous 10 us in
allowing our bulletins TO he put up in their
places. or because they are kept by suf-
fragists 1t is just reciprocity, that's what
Il Is.
Mrs Frederick Gillette, leader Of the
18th Assembly District, is conducting a
regular campaign along those lines. and
makes speeches at her meetings telling who
are the suffrage merchants and who not
What do you think of the action Of the
Assembly on the suffrage bill?' Mrs. Laid
law was asked.
DO you expect me TO tell you in two OF
three sentences" she demanded. 1T would
take a long time to do justice 10 the low
down trick they played us. And what
political unwisdom on their part! If women
did such silly, stupid thing they would b,
called absolute fools.
but our boycotting bonnets won't do any
good in this country. OF course. | am not
speaking for England. Conditions are quite
different there"
But Mrs. Ashton Jonson. Engishwomau
and constitutional suffragist who is lectur-
ing here. doesn't think the bonnet boycott
would work in England, either.
Not enough women would do 1t to make
the boycott effective" she said WHAT
are one thousand women even out of mill
ions
and her mother, Mrs. John Winters Bran
nan, were just leaving the office Of the
WOman's Political Union to buy new spring
hats. SO they weren't interested.