Norwich bulletin., 1913-12-09
Suffragettes al
 the White House
ASK PRESIDENT TO LEND AID
 TO THEIR CAUSE
WILSON SIDESTEPS ISSUE
Tells Delegation He Must Adhere to Party Policies But Favors Appoint
 ment of House Standing Committee.

Washington. Dec. S-Wonan sui frage confronted President Wilson to- day in the person of sixty meInpeTs of the National American Woman SUI frage Association who pleaded that ne use his Influence with congress 10 op- tain the ballot for women of the nation. It was the first time the president had been brought face to race W-tn the issue in a formal way. He told $ callers that whatever might De HIS personal views on woman suffrage or any other subject he had mad9 IL a rule not to urge anything upon con- gress that had not been the sub1ect of "organic consideration" by the dem ocratic party Of which he considered himself spokesman The president said that when members of congress consulted him he would freely give his views, and he added that having al- ready been asked his opinion about the organization of 8 standing committee in the house of representatives to con slider woman suffrage he had expressed himself in favor of such committee
 Not A Handsi1aE<ing Affair.
 pr. Anna Howard Shaw expressed the view that the presidents endorse Inent of the idea of a special commit tee in tie house was all tha- could have been expected under the circum- stances.
 It was a quiet, earnest group of suf- fragettes who stood in a. circle with the president in it's center in the White House offices. They constituted the special committee appointed by the convention of the national organzation to await the presidents recovery from his illness and they marched confident Iy to the White House to plead their cause.
 This is to be no mere handshaking affair" remarked one of the leaders fn hn h pH will do all the talking and the hand shaking too"
 Tn Spirit of Justice"
 The president nodded pleasantly to the women as they formed in a circle around him and Dr. Shaw stepped for ward. She told in a straight forward, simple way how unavailing had been the frequent pilgrifnages of the women to Washington heretofore and how committees of congress had listened courteously, but had buried their case" She appealed to the presi- dent, Gin the spirit of justice" to urge upon congress by message to pass an amendment to the federal constitution to be submitted to the states that would give women the right to vote throughout the land. She suggested three ways for the president to help the cause of suffrage-by special mes sage on the subject, a reference to it in any general message he might send or the use of his influence to obtain the appointment of d standing commit tee in the house of repr resentatiVes to consider the subject as the senate had done.
 Must Adhere to Party Policies.
 The president listened in silence. He had not been asked for his own views on woman suffrage, so he did not give them. On the proposal to send message to congress, he cited his rule of adhering to party policies, intinat- ing that when consulted by members of congress he might give his views freely,
 There was a pause after the presi- dent finished speaking, an air of not having quite been satisfied and DF. Shaw resumed;
 Since we are net members of any political party" she asked, who is one to speak for us-''
 T realize that" interjeeted the pres ident.
 unless we speak fer ourselves"
 And yeu do that very admirably" Fejoined MT. Wilson, and general laugh broke the selemnity of the oc- casiOn.
 Some Would Not Shake Hands.
 T should like to shake hands with president sniling1y and several wo- men stepped forward. Others hung back and drifted out of the office Those who stayed behind spoke cordi- ally to the president of his courtesy in receiving the delegation after his ill., ness and some referred to having voted for him in suffrage states. The women filed out and posed for a pie ture and went forth to ponder over what the president said