New-York tribune., 1912-12-04
PARTY BIAS A BLUNDER
SAYS SUFFRAGE LEADER
Republicans and Democrats Made Hostile by
Partisanship, Asserts Ida Hustled Harper
IN. Y. Outlook Fine

What it did, by a vote OF 10 to !. was 10
give the officers entire liberty to make
any party affiliations they chose. Almost
the same day that IL took this action the
American Federation of Labor, at it's
annual convention, voted by large ma
jority for a continuance Of the nom
partisanship of its official board. And yet
the suffragists are absolutely dependent
for the success of their cause on the favor
of all political parties. Older suffragists,
who remembered the uncompromising
stand for principle and the spirit OF fair
ness liberation and comradeship which
characterized the conventions of the past
found much to sadden them in the one
which ended last week, but the change Is
perhaps inevitable as measure nears
success, and many new adherents come
in who have not known the discipline OF
unpopularity and disappointment
Sure Thing in New York.
The movement for woman suffrage in
New York is IN fine condition. Everybody
wants the submission of constitutional
amendment. All the parties have called
for il in their state platforms; the Anti
Suffrage Association can hardly wait Tor
it. the Federation of Women's Clubs, with
its 10000 members cries for It; that great
and good friend William Sulzer, will soon
be in the Governors chair. All that
awaits now is the election Of its mortal
enemy, Mr.. "Al' Smith. as Speaker Of the
Assembly, and the battle will be on.
Mrs. Dodge. chairman OF the anti
executive committee, denies vigorously
that the federation was brought into the
suffrage fold' at its recent convention.
The preamble 20 the resolution indorsing
the amendment, il seems, declared that
"balloting is more dignified and efec"
tive method than begging." but the AS
ISOLATION Opposed TO Woman Suffrage
strongly objected to the preamble Mrs.
Dodge says, "and it was rejected by
vote of two to one, and the resolution
then passed by large majority so the
federation is on record as practically de-
clarng that 1t considers begging more
dgnihed than balloting!
The Anti-Sunrage Association has is
sued a statement from its seventeenth an
nual meeting that it ''favors the submls-
sion Of an amendment" This is all the
suffragists ever have asked of the Legis-
lature, and yet for fifteen or twenty years
the "antis" have appeared regularly be-
fore that body with every possible argu-
ment that could be made against II. Now
that It is apparently inevitable, they sud
denly yeer around and ask for II. II is
10 laugh.
At this meeting they decided To start
out organizers and speakers at once TO
scour the state" As the suffragists are
already very busy securing the state 1t
looks as II there would be general
cleanup. Meanwhile the Legislature, II II
has any political sagacty, will dispose OF
this question as soon as II meets thus
releasing the lobbyists TO take part In the
securing and also relieving itself OF their
attentions.
II really seems a pity 10 have all TINS
work and worry 10 get tho suffrage as
Everett Z. Wheeler has discovered that
even II successful the whole revolution
arv movement will be dead and buried
thirty years from now. because 1t IS op-
posed 10 the fundamental and natural
ls,y that the mothers OF the race should
not bear this burden" Even so. II seems
pity 20 bar out the spinsters. and thirty
wears is a long time for getting back 10
fundamental and natural law.