The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1913-12-12
REPLY TO WOMEN
President Wilson Declines to
Send Congress Message.
OPENS WAY FOR PRESSURE

Head of Nation Tells Suffrage Visitors
That He Is Powerless to Start
Things--Is Only an instrument to
Carry Out Party PrncipIes-SIy
Compliment to Callers.
WASHINGTON = President Wilson
told the fifty-five delegates and
members of the National American
Woman Suffrage Association that he
could not, under the policy he has
outlined for himself, make any specific
representation to congress in regard
to an amendment to the federal con-
stitution providing for equal suffrage
The president told the delegation
that he favored a standing woman's
suffrage committee in the house 81
representatives.
President Wilson made it clear to
the deputation that his private opin-
ions, views or desires were not the
basis for his public utterances as
representative either of the whole
people or of his party and that he
could not suggest to congress legis-
lation dealing with changes in the
fundamental law not previously pre-
scented for general consideration
through the medium of party platform
announcements.
The president did not give the suf-
fragists even the satisfaction of know
ing what his personal views on the
subject are. The effect of his state
ment to them was to throw the burden
of the equal suffrage question on the
back of the Democratic party itself
Members of the delegation plainly
we're dissatisfied with the result of
their visit and some of them were in
clined to characterize the presidents
attitude as evasive.
Wilson Commits Self to Platform.
The statement by the president,
however, has a broader significance
than it's mere relation to the suffrage
question. 1t commits Mr.. Wilson to
the policy of recommending to con-
gress in the next three years only
such subjects as are incluAed in the
Baltimore platform. This is a new
departure.
When the president, in concluding
informed the delegation that he was
not at liberty to speak for somebody
besides himself to urge legislation up
on congress, DR.. Shaw spoke up and
said:
Gas we are members of no political
party to whom then are we to look
as spokesman unless we speak for
ourselves?"
You do that most admirably" re-
piled the president smiling blandly
and with an inclination of the head
and stepping back he indicated that
the interview was at an end except
that he remarked his regret that time
and the numbers of the delegation pre-
vented his shaking hands with all Of
them.
She Voted for Wilson.
Mrs. Lula A. Sheppard of Salt Lake
City, the Utah member of the gather
ing thought, however, that she should
not be denied this privilege as she
was real voter and had voted the
Wilson and Marshall ticket in 1912
The president extended his hand
instantly.
81 voted for you,' said Mrs Step
pard, land so did my dear old mother
and my young daughter who cast her
first vote in 1912 but Mr.. Sheppard
voted for the Bull Moose"
81 hope you will convert your hus-
band before the next election" said
the president, laughing again.
There was disposition on the part
Of a majority of the deputation to
criticise President Wilson's attitude
and his utterances but DR.. Shaw's
optimistic view of the executive at
titude caused this sentiment quickly
to SubSide. She said:
"The president is in favor of a com
mittee on suffrage in the house and
our chief purpose in coming to call
was to find out where he Stood