Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-30
Woman Suffragists Merely
Protest Against Being Re-
quired to Make Returns.
DENIAL OF INTENTION
OF BECOMING militant
Treasury Department Quotes Law
Governing the Subject-Dr. Anna
Howard Shaw's Views.

With Washington suffragists declaring
their sympathy for all disfranchised
women who refuse to report incomes un-
der the income tax provision of the new
tariff law, and Treasury officials pointing
to the provision of the law which pro-
vides a fine for such refusal or ''conniv-
ing at the same it appeared today as
though militantism is about to break out
in the United States.
DR.. Anna Howard Shaw president OF
the National American Woman Suf-
frage Association, who started the dis
cussion by sending out an open letter
on the subject. supplemented her let
ter in New York by denying any inten-
ton of being militant, but declaring
her intention of refusing to make any
returns on her income to a tax as
SCISSOR.
Dr. Shaw added that if fined by
court she would refuse to pay the fine.
II sent to Jail she will not start hunger
strike, she said, adding: II would not
thus ruin my health. I'm of more worth
to the suffrage cause while I'm In good
health than l would be if l was starved.
Elaborates Her Views.
In explanation of her letter to the
sufragists, DR.. Shaw said
II hold 1T is unfair to the women of
this country to have taxation without
representation, and 1 have urged them
to adopt course of passive resistance
like the Quakers. instead of agrees
sive resistance. / say to the govern
ment, You may pick my pocket be-
cause you are stronger than I, but I'm
not going to turn my pockets wrong
side out for you.
You Will have to turn them out your
self. Since my letter was sent all over
the country ! have received letters of en-
enlargement and support from all direc-
tons. l believe that the spirit of no
taxation without representation that re-
suited in the revolutionary war Is in
herent, and just actual in the women
OF the country it was then in the men
of the country
Problem Solved by Law.
The campaign of the suffragists will
find their problem solved by law. ac-
cording TO Treasury Department officials.
There is a provision in the law which
appropriates $4,000 for collecting the
tax, and states that the commissioner
Oh internal revenue may pay such sums
as he deems necessary for information,
detection and bringing to trial and pun
ishment persons guilty Of violating the
provisions of this section or conniving
at the same" Department officials say
the law is plain and will be enforced
Under the income tax provision of
Is made: "On or before the first day of
March. 1914, and the first day of March
in each year thereafter true and ac-
curate return. under oath or affirma-
ton. shall be made by each person Of
lawful age, except as hereinafter pro-
vided. subject to the tax imposed, and
having an income. of $4,000 or more for
the taxable year"
The fight of the suffragists at present
is not directed at the payment of the tax
SO much as at the making of the returns
on which the tax is to be assessed.
Attitude Of Anti-suffragists.
AT the Washington branch of the Ma
tional Association Opposed to Woman
Suffrage it was said today that the at
titude of the anti-suffragists is that no
person in the United States, man or wom-
an. has the right to refuse to pay taxes
or to obey the law in any way. Taxes are
raised for protecting all people, II was
said, and should be paid accordingly.
Up to the present no Washington suf-
fragist has taken the stand that she will
personally refuse to make the required
returns Mrs. Medill Mccormick, the new
chairman of the congressional commit
tee of the National American Woman
Suffrage Association. who is known to
have taxable income said she did not
know what attitude she will take. She
,said she has always paid her taxes
promptly.
Mrs. Jessie Hardy Stubbs, chairman
Of the press committee of the Con-
gresstonal Union for Woman Suffrage.
expressed herself as heartily in sympa-
thy with DR.. Shaw'S stand. She went
to the Capitol yesterday and got all
available documents on the income tax.
Congressional Union Statement.
The Congressional Union. headed by
Miss Alice Paul, has issued a statement
expressing sympathy with the movement,
declaring that 1t does not plan to organ
ize widespread resistance to the income
tax law, but adds: IF any society or indi-
vidual however. should refuse to pay in
come tax, or to give information as to
the amount of income, the Congressional
Union would have every sympathy with
such action"
Imposition Of an income tax on won1-
en- the statement continues has made
them realize afresh their helplessness I'M
der the government. To tax the women
without granting them representation.
the statement asserts. would be an act
of ''intolerable injustice"
Resistance to the income tax law the
statement says, would have excellent
educational value, and would be thor
oughly justified morally" 1t is stated in
conclusion, however, that the union will
not undertake to organize a protest
against the law.
The suffragist leaders assert that they
have hundreds of followers pledged to
fight the income tax
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