The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-12-11
TELLS
SUFFS HE CANNOT
URGE PROPAGANDA

Washington. Dec. 9.-President VIII
son today told q delegation from the
National American Woman's Suffrage
association that he favored O standing
woman's suffrage committee in the
House OF Representatives, but he de-
MED their request that he sem q spec
ial message to congress urging h re-
form. g..
Marching by twos and tours. with
banners afloat, the suffragists braved
chill winds of q raw day to storm the
White House offices. They were soon
ushered into the presidents private
office and formed in a circle about Mr..
Wilson. III. aa gF..a e.
DIR. Anna Howard Shaw, president of
the association, summarized briefly
their appeal to the president to assist
the movement either by sending q
special message to congress, by includ-
ing reference to suffrage in any gem
eral message he might deliver or by
nsing his influence to have a special
committee appointed to consider the
subject. ... y
Explains His Views. 4
Il want you ladies, If possible" said
the president to the delegation, If l
can make it clear to you, to realize
just what my present situation is:
Whenever I walk abroad ! realize !
am not a free man; I am under arrest.
IL am so carefully and admirably
guarded that l have not even b priv
Ilege of walking the streets. That Is,
as II were, typical of my present trans
ference from being an individual with
his mind on any and every subject, 10
being an official Of a great govern
ment, incidentally or so 1t falls out I'M
der our system Of government, the
spokesman Of a party. 3, 0m
'T set myself this very strict rule
when I was governor OF New Jersey
and have followed 1t as president and
shall follow II as president-that ! am
not at liberty to urge on IN
messages policies which have not had
the organic consideration or tnose TOT
whom I am spokesman.
In other words, / have not yet pre-
sented Il any legislature my prlVaIS
views on any subject, and ] shall
because / conceive that to be part OF
the whole progress or government
that I shall he spokesman for some
impertinence. When I speak for my
self I am an individual; when i am
spokesman Of an organic body. l am a
representative. u 4L'.. 8'
Can't "Start Anything"
For. that reason you see, am by
NV own principles, shut out In the
language Of the street, from STARTING
- - H .~t ~ NJ #a# "
II have to confine myself to those
things which have been embodied as
promises to the people at an election.
That is the strict rule / set for my
self. 81, ..' '#'
Il want to say tina with regard to
all other matters, i am not only glad
TO be consulted by my colleagues In
the houses, but / hope they VIII only
pay me the compliment OF
me when they want to know my opln-
ion or any subject. One member OF
the rules committee ! come to me
and asked me what l Thought O
the subject of preparation OF a special
committee of the House, as the senate
has already appointed a special COM
mittee for considering woman SURFACE
and I told him I thought 1t was a
proper thing to do. So far al my per-
sonal advice has been asked by the
single member OF the congress 1t q
been given to that effect. | want TO
tell YOU that to show h 81 / am strict
ly living w to my principles. When my
private opinion is asked by those who
are cooperating wits me, j am most
glad to give it, but / an not at liberty
until I speak for somebody else be-
sides myself, to urge legislation on the
congress"
President Gets a LAUGH.
There was q pause and DIR. Anna
Shaw spoke up:
MAY I ask you a question" she said.
The president nodded assent.
"Since we are members OF no
political party, who is TO speak for us
IL we don't speak for ourselves"
'tYcu do that very admirably" re-