Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-12-08
WILSON FAv0RS
SUFFRAGIST
MOVEMENT
he TELLS DELEGATION OF SUFFRA-
GETTES THAT he THINKS HOUSE
SHOULD HAVE A COMMITTEE ON
SUFFRAGE But REFUSES TO RE-
COMMEND IT IN MESSAGE.
SAYS he IS ONLY A
SPOKESMAN FOR PARTY


dent Wilson today told delegation
from the National American Woman's
Suffrage association that he thought
there should be standing woman's
suffrage committee in the house OF
representatives but he denied their re-
quest that he send a special message
to congress urging the reform
Marching by twos and fours, with
banners afioat, the suffragettes
breathed chill winds of raw day to
storm the White House Offices. They
were soon ushered into the presidents
private office, and formed in a circle
about President Wilson. DR.. Anna
Shaw, president of the association,
addressed briefly their appeal to the
president to assist the movement, eth
er by sending a special message to
congress, by including reference to
suffrage in any general message he
might deliver, or by using his influence
to have a special committee OF the
house appointed to consider the sub
ject.
81 want you ladies, if possible said
the president to the delegation, III |
can make it clear to you, to realize
Just what my present situation is.
"Whenever | walk abroad, | fealiZe
that | am not free man; | am under
arrest. | am so carefully and admir-
ably guarded that have not even the
privilege of walking the streets. Ihat
is, as it were, typical OF my present
transference from being an lndlvld-
ual with his mind on any and every
subject to being an official of great
government, and incidentally. or so 1t
falls out, under our system OF govern
ment, the spokesman of a party
II Sc; myself this very strict rule
when | was governor Of New Jersey
and have followed it as president ana
shall follow il as president--that am
not at liberty to urge on congress III
messages, policies that have not had
the organic consideration of those for
whom ! am spokesman
'.In other words, 7 have not yet
presented to any legislature my PRIV
ate views on any subject and now
shall not, because | conceive that 10
he part of the whole process OF gov
erpment. that | shall be spokesman
for somebody, not for myself II
would be an impertinence. When /
speak for myself, I am an individual
when ] am spokesman OF an organic
body, ! am representative.
.'F'or that reason, you see, | am by
my own principles, shut out in the
language of the street, from starting
ANYTHING" | have to cOnfine myself
to those things which have been EN-
bodied as promises to the people at
an election. That is the strict rule
set for myself.
81 want to say that with regard 10
all other matters, | am not only Situ
to be consulted by my colleagues IN
the Two houses, but | hope they VIII
often pay me the compliment OF con-
sulting me when they want to know
my opinion on any subject. One mem
ber of the rules committee did come
to me and ask me what ! thought
tI6 SuSSCotiOH VI So"Ae " ~
pointing a special committee OF the
house as the senate has already ap-
pointed a special committee for the
consideration of women's suffrage, and
[ told him that ! thought it was
proper thing to do. SO, so far as my
personal advice has been asked by
single member OF the committee. 1t has
been given to that effect. | want to
tell you that | am strictly living up
to my principles. When my private
opinion is asked by those who are CO.
operating with me, I am glad to give
it, but l am not at liberty, until !
speak for somebody else besides to
urge legislation by congress-
There was a pause and DR.. Anna
Shaw spoke up:
MAY l ask you question: she
said The president nodded assent.
"Since we are members of no political
party who is to speak for us if we do
not speak for ourselves?"
"You do that very admirably re.
marked the president and the entire
assembly joined in laugh.
The president thanked his visitors
for calling and said he would like to
shake hands with them. Mrs. Shaw