New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-24
lane Adams SwayS Convention
and Mrs. Belmont Says She
Wishes She Could Resign.
SLAP AT COL. ROOSEVELT
Sought to Use Association, y
declares New York Member,
Whose Contingent Is Over
whelmingly Beaten.
IBy Telegraph TO The Tribune ]

,bs third days session OF the convention
u the National womsns Suffrage As
soc,stion was the defeat of the proposed
Constitutional amendment to prevent tho
o1esrs and members Of the association
from participation in partisan politics ex-
,.rt whore equal Suffrage is in force.
Ths resolution, which was introduced by
Mrs Ida Hustled Harper, of New York,
had the support Of Mrs. .. H. +. Belmont.
Mrs Henry Willard, Inez Ailholland, Miss
lane Campbell. Of this .ty, and several
prominent Western WON 4
After three hours Of de ate the smend-
msnt. which the delegat believed was
inspired by the course o Jane Adams
At the last Progressive INVENTION, was
defeated by vote Of 81 r. IS.
Mrs. Harper made an eloquent plea for
prAst she considered a principle. and
ouot4d freely from the ygEi>,ngs OF Susan
r Anthony 70 show that tie founder OF
tbs movement had always sought to pre-
ysnt too active participation In partisan
politics. Mrs Harper argued that the
publIc would not be able 70 draw the dis
tinotion between individual acts Of Of
scials and those performed for the as
ISOLATION. She referred to Colonel Roose-
Welt az "a certain ambitious man who ha6
sought to use the National Suffrage As
ISOLATION" and argued that in the future
the organization should be kept free from
the use Of all politicians.
'Tf II were not for my hstplns," she de-
clared my hat would be in the ring.
Protest by Or. Shaw.
DR.. Anna Shaw, who presided, took ex-
ception to some of Mrs. Harper's re-
marks. and TO the delegates who wanted
10 Judge the ease on its merits it appeared
that it was a Gaze Of the machinery Of
the convention against the New York
historiaH and biographer. Mrs. Harper
hsld her ground. and when called upon
for facts abe produced them, much TO the
discomfort Of some of the delegates whom
she alleged were playing partisan politics.
The defeat OF Mrs. Harper's amsndment
was accomplished largely through the per-
sonSl appeal Of Jane Adams, whose
wonderful personality carried the conven-
tlan with It. When Miss Adams took the
floor. she cleverly apologized TO tine as
ISOLATION If she had offended IL by her
course In the past. and stated that N her
opinion she had really done the cause OF
suffrage good instead Of harm. She never
would have accepted the vice-presioency'
she said, If she had thought that II bound
her to q negative attitude on great public
questions. and would resign II the amend
ment carried.
Belvah Lockwood materially aided Miss
Addams's cause when she said IN oppo'
sition 70 Mrs Harper's amendment; II
any party pledges it's help to our cause
and puts a real plank In It's platform as
suring US the vote, let us back II with al
means" These two swung the convention
and when the vote was counted Mrs. Har'
per had been defeated almost ten to ono
Reports from the auxiliary presidents Oh
the various Western state conventions
were Of great interest. The one IRON
Michigan showed that, contrary to tn'
general belief, the suffrage amendment
which was voted on In that state, is stu
I'm doubt because eleven precincts from
Wayne County are still missing. While
the suffrage amendment is stih l+W
ahead, there is danger that the missing
preoints Will wipe this margin out
The report Of the treasurer, Jessie Ash
hey, showed a deficit of between slo'se'
and 81 900. The deficit 10 in three items
Ter bills owed on "The Wom6nS Jour
nal" the official organ, there ts denoi
Of A,777. General expenses mean sso'
moro, and loans on notes unpaid ainouh
70 between $1,000 and 5000.
Speaking OF the defeat Of Mrs. Harper
amendment, Mrs. Belmont said:
feel that to-day's action marks th'
frst serious riff in the suffrage move
nent II there were any way In whiel
] could resign my life membership In the
Asboeistion gracefully, / would do 80.
Il is inconceivsble TO mo that the asso'
citation should vC.s delfberat 20 aban.
don the policy Of nor partisenship laiC
down by Susan 3 Anthony, one OF ths
nrgt, apd certainly one ~ .ae w1sest, o.
our leaders, Just 10 keep Miss Adams
from resi- sniug from Office. for that "a OBJ
vlOusly the way the delegates look at thu
question.
! realize that many think Miss Adams
Influence and her strength All over The
country II iinmeasursbls, ana that she,
believe she 10 the only woman who car
prevent the East and tho West IRON
splitting into separate associations. br
! am not convinced OF the truth Of THU
View, and feel that IL is very unwtse thu
to open the door TO taking sides on othe'
Questions before We have gained the vote
IN majority Of the states
Last night Mrs. Belmont gave $1,000
10 help paw the debts Of the association
and several delegates believe a cornpro
fnase should have been effected instead o.
Detecting the project Of the innusntia
New York members OF the association.
At the business session this morning Il
was announced that to better aecomnno
Cate the crowds expected at the Monde,
night meeting, which is to be addressed
BY Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, the inter
national president, and Baroness vor
sattnsr, arrangements had been com
pieted 10 hold that session Of the conven
uon In the Metropolitan Opera House.
continent among the delegates as to th'
pace Of holding the convention next yea
seems TO be narrowing down TO TexaI
ery the preference, as expressed b!
prominent members lying between Gal
weston ana Gan Antonio. The authorit!
TOT making this selection is vested In tn
executive board. and will be exercised
shortly after the final session on Tuesda!
next.
Election q officers will be held on Mon
oay' and nothing has developed thus Ia
70 indicate any important changes in tn
omoial stan. MISS Jane Adams has beer