Evening star., 1913-12-03

frage. of the legal and political status OF
one-haf the race, is pressing for solution.
There will be much besides the mere per-
functory annual hearing.
You will remember that there is a
committee on Indian affairs. Now, why ?
Are the Indians more important than the
women?
The democratic party now has the op-
portunity of a century
Mrs. Ida Hustled Harper said there are
now 1JD,OOo women in the United States
who are completely enfranchised and
more than 100000 who may vote for
presidential electors.
This number is liable to be increased :
she continued. -Four states-Neyada
Montana and North and South Dakota
VIII voteN on suffrage in 1914. The legis-
iatures OF eight other states gave a
majority vote in favor of submitting suf-
frage amendments this year."
She said that until 1881 the House had
a suffrage committee. Mrs. Harper re-
ferred to the suffrage parade here last
March, saying the acts of men on that
occasion were disgraceful
Miss Jane Addams Speaks.
Miss Jane Addams was the next speak
or. She took up the states right uues-
ton, bearing on the question of whether
congress has the right to control the
voting qualifications. She showed that
IN number Of instances Congress has
exercised control of who shall vote in
the states.
There fs wave of public opinion
growing over this land in favor of this
movement, she continued. I'VE expect
that twice as many women will be vot-
ing in two years"
Representative Hardwick of Georgia
suggested that the House committee on
the election of President and Vice Presi-
dent might be glad to consider woman
suffrage. Mr. Henry said that Repre-
sentative Rucker of Missouri is chair
man of that committee. He said that
perhaps You would like to know how
he stands on suffrage"
We do not care about that so much"
replied DR.. Shaw. but we do care that
the committee shall heed what the peo-
pie of the country want"
Retort Causes Laughter
One of the members of the committee
said that the committee mentioned is a
dead" one.
1T wouldn't remain dead long if we
got at it," retorted Dr. Shaw. amid
laughter.
Miss Desha Breckenridge of Ken
tucky, a Granddaughter of Henry Clay.
declared that constitutional amend
ment for suffrage will not harm the
south.
Il must admit" she said that the
men Of my state now speak oratorically
of women in connection with horses and
whisky, and politically in connection
with idiots and criminals"
Objection Over Committee.
Objection 20 the idea of turning the
suffrage question over to the commit
tee on the election of President and
Vice President was made by Repre-
sentative Roper of California He said
that because of the Presidents recon-
mendation for presidential primaries
this committee probably will be very
busy.
You have committees to consider
every other kind of question" ne con-
tinued. why not one for this ques-
tion2"
Representative Garrett of Tennessee
asked ii il was not expected by the
women that the proposed committee
be composed OF men favorable to suf-
frage. Mr.. Roper replied that all that
was desired was that the committee be
fair. DR. Shaw interjected that even
if a committee against SUFFRAGE should
be named it could be won over.
Hear Reports From State Bodies.
At the session of the convention at
Masonic Temple this afternoon the read
ings of reports from the presidents OF
state suffrage associations We're begun
Among the reports read were those OF
Mrs. Pattie r. Jacobs of Alabama, Mrs
Mary McH. Keith of California, Mrs
Harriet q. r. Wright of Colorado Mis-.
Alice Paul of the Congressional Union
Mrs. Katherine Houghton Hepburn 81
Connecticut. Mrs. Martha Cranston o.
Delaware. Mrs Nina Il. Allender of th'
District of Columbia. Mrs. Mary San
ford of Florida and Mrs. Mary McLendor
OF Georgia. Following these state report:
there was to be conference on method!
of suffrage work, led by Mrs. Heller
Eacker of Kansas.
Man suffragists are to have charge o
the program tonight, and the meeting il
to be open to the public James Lees
1.aidlaw. president of the National Men!
League for Woman Suffrage. is to pre-
side. and the speakers are to be Sen
ators Thomas of Colorado. Bristow o
Kansas and Owen of Oklahoma and Repre-
sentatives Bryan of Washington. Mon
dell of Wyoming. Murdock of Kansas anC
Kent of California and former Mayor
| George Creel of Denver,