New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-13
ROOSEVELT COMES OUT
FOR VOTES FOR WOMEN
Judge Ben B. Lindsey Announces
Conversion, Which Is Con-
firmed by Ex-PreSident
"DE.LIGHTED," SAY WOMEN
"Shrewd Politics. y "A Trifle Be
lated" I'VE Won't Look a
Gift Horse in the Mouth"
Say Suffrage Leaders.

oyster Bay. June 12.-Theodore Roose-
velt announced this afternoon, through
Judge Ben B. Lindsey, of Denver, that
! he was in favor of womans suffrage in
this country. and that the platform
which he would submit to the Chicago
convention would contain an unequivo'
cal declaration TO that effect.
Judge Lindsey spent two hours with
Colonel Roosevelt to-day. The object of
his visit was primarily to persuade the
colonel to announce that he was in favor
of woman's suffrage. Heretofore Colonel
Roosevelt has merely said that he be-
lieved the question of woman's suffrage
should be Submitted TO the women them
selves for determination whether they
wished the ballot.
As the Judge WAS leaving Sycamore
Hill he said: Colonel Roosevelt has
come out decidedly for womans suf-
frage. He was induced to take this def
mite stand by what the women voters
have done in Colorado in opposition to
Messrs. Guggenheim and Evans in
Washington, California and other West
ern states.
Colonel Roosevelt told me that lie
was convinced from this record Of the
advantare to the country to be gained
by placing the ballot in the hands Of
women.
The colonel also said that he had
JaI to IL, 81 l,n
platform which he will submit to the
Chicago convention "A womans suffrage
plank"
Colonel Roosevelt said later that Judge
I.indsey's statement was entirely COR
rect.
The Joy OF the suffragists over Colonel
Roosevelts appearance In the votes for
women fold is tempered JOY.
Most OF them are glad to have him, but
they are not going to demean themselves
by being grateful. On the contrary. they
say, How gratifying 1t is that our cause
has become so important that a man who
is seeking to be nominated for President OF
the United States finds It advisable to an
nounce that he is for us and that his plat
FORM Will COuldIh IL uCNiuidilOH 10 tlut ell
feet"
The fact is. they feel that the colonel $
appearance in the fold is just q triae be-
lated.
"He might have helped us so much more
IL he had come out for us before" said a
member OF the Woman's Political Union.
AS to questioning his motives-well. suf-
fragists aren't going to question the mo-
tives of any man who joins their process
sion, with the exception of Miss Elizabeth
Freeman, who openly declared that Roose-
yelt's action was IA clever trick AT the mo-
ment.'
Tie most any one would say was "Of
course, we know Roosevelt is a politician .,
one ballot seeker was unknd enough to
exclaim, "Oh. Teddy just wants TO get a
stem ahead of William" But that WASH t
for publication. What they said for pub
lication was more like this:
"De-lighted!' exclaimed Miss Caroline
Reilly. who looks after all the press work
of the National Woman Suffrage Associa-
ton. IL am really very glad to hear that
Mr. Roosevelt is out for woman suffrage.
| Rut the significant thing about this Is that
| tho announcement came through Judge Ben
| y Lindsey. of Denver. who has been visit
| r,,tcued on third rnge third column.