Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-12-09
Chief Executive Is Brought
Face TO Face With PROPOSE
ton of Votes for W0meF
for First Time,
FAV0RS APPOINTMENT
OF HOUSE COMMITTEE
Attitude Is All That Could Be
Expected, Says Dr. Anna
Howard Shaw, Who Present.
ed Cause at White House,

fuY MORNING IoUHssl srselAt lssstn wist'
Washington, Dec S-Woman suf-
frnge confronted President Wilson to-
day In the person OF sixty members
OF the National Woman Suffrage as
sociation who pleaded that he use his
influence with congress TO obtain the
ballot for the women of the nation.
It was the first time the president
had been brought face 10 face with
the issue in a formal way lie told his
callers that whatever might be his
personal views on woman suffrage or
any other subject. he had made it
rule not to urge anything upon con
gress that had not been the subject of
"ofganlc consideration" by the demo-
cratic party Of which he considered
himself the spokesman The president
said that when members Of congress
consulted him, he would freely give
his views and he added that haying
already been asked his opinion about
The organization Of a standing commit
tee in the house 20 consider woman
suffrage he had expressed himself in
favor of such a com ittee
Some Of the members OF the dele
cation We're disappointed some felt
encouraged others were non-com-
initial. DR.. Anna Shaw expressed the
view that the presidents endorsement
of the idea Of special committee i'm
the house was an that could have
been expected under the oircum-
stances.
II was aequiet, earnest group of suf-
fragists who stood in a circle with the
president in it's center In the White
House offices. Most Of them had walk
ed to the White House through a
freezing gale They constituted the
special committee appointed by the
convention of the national organiza-
tion to await the presidents recovery
from his Illness, and they marched
confidently TO the White House to
plead their cause.
"This is to be no mere handshaking
affair remarked one Of the leaders
TO the assembled group "Dr Shaw
will do all the talking and the hand
shaking, too"
Il was said that she who spoke. re-
membered a visit of New Jersey sut-
fragists who took TO the president q
message on woman suffrage and shook
hands with him, but got no reply
The president nodded pleasantly to
the women as they formed in circle
around him and DR. Shaw stepped
forward In low voice, she told in
straightforward, simple way, how
had been the frequent pill
grimages of the women to Washing
ten heretofore. and how committees of
congress bad listened courteously, but
had buried their case
She appealed to the president sin
the spirit of Justice to urge congress
by a message, 20 adopt an amendment
to the federal constitution to be sub /
mltted 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 a special message on the
subject. a reference to it in any gem
eral message he might send, or the /
use of his influence to obtain the ape I
polntment of a standing committee in
the house Of representatives to con .
slider the subject, as the senate had /
done.
The president listened in silence.
He had not been asked for his own .
views on woman suffrage, so he did
not give It to them. ON the proposal
to send a message to congress he cited
his rule Of adhering to party policies,
intmating that when consulted By
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 Or
shaw resumed
Since we are not members Of any
political party" she asked who is
going to speak for us?-there Is no one Il
10 speak for us" II realize that, in
.eriected the president unless we
speak for ourselves she added.
"And you do that very admirably I
'oioined Mr. Wilson and a general
augh broke the solemnlty Of the oc-
,asion.
u should like to shake hands with J
IS many Of you as want" added the {
smilinglY and several wom- I
N stepped forward. Others hung back /
and drlfted out Of the office Those
who stayed behind spoke cordially to
he president of his courtesy IN re-
,elvine the delegation after his Illness 2
ind some referred to having voted for t
lin in suffrage states. The women {
He'd ont and posed for a picture and e
vent forth into the teeth Of the wind j
gain in threes and fours to ponder t
,ver what the president had said I