The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-08
The President Tells q Delega.
tion of Woman Suffragists
He Cannot Urge Their Cause In
q Message.
IT IS 4 MATTER OF PRINCIPLE LE
Not to ssStart Anything" With.
out the Party Backing.
He Is in Favor of Special House
Committee.


Washington, Dec. S.-President Will
son today told a delegation from the
National American Woman's Suffrage
association that he favored stano1ns
woman's suffrage committee In the
house of representatives but he denied
their request that he send a special
message to congress urging the REFORM
Marching by twos and fours. Win
banners afioat, the suffragists praveo
chill winds of a raw day TO storm Tic
White House offices. They were soon
ushered into the presidents private 0i-
Ace and formed a circle aD0ut MI. W.
dent. summarized briefly their appear
to the president to assist the move
ment either by sending a special mes
sage to congress, by including refer
ence to suffrage in any general messase
he might deliver or by using his IN
fiuence 70 have a special committee OF
+ha ho,,se appointed to consider the
II want you ladies', If possible" said
the president to the delegation, II
can make 1t clear to you, to reanze JUST
what my present situation Is;
that I am not q free man; 1 am unoer
arrest. I am SO carefully and admir-
ably guarded that I have not even the
nrivilege of walking the streets. rms
is. as it were, typical OF my preseni
transference. from being an inolV1ouai
with his mind. on any and every SUP.
iect to being an official of a great
Government and incidentally, or SO
A. falls out under our system OF gov
ernment, the spokesman OF a party.
His Rule of Conduct.
IT set myself this very strict rule
when / was governor OF New Jersey
and have followed it as president anu
shall follow it as president-tnat l am
not at liberty to urge on congress IN
essares. policies which have not hau
the organic consideration OF those ZOE
whom I am spokesman.
.sIn other words, have not yet pre-
scented to any legislature my private
views on any subject and 1 never shall.
becauses-f conceive that : to- - DaEs s0e
the whole process of government. Tnat
I shau be spokesman for somebody, not.
for nvself. It would be an impertinence,.
When I speak for myself, l am an IN
dividual when am spokesman OF an
organic body, l am representative.
For that reason, you see am Dy
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. This is the strict rule / set
for myself
II want to say that with regard to
all other matters 1 am not only glad
to be consulted by my colleagues In
the two houses, but l hope they will
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 I thought about
this suggestion of yours of appointing
special committee of the house as
the senate has already appointed a
special committee for the considera-
ton of woman suffrage. and told him
that I thought that it was proper
thing to do. SO, that. SO far as my per-
sonal advice has been asked by a sim
gle member of the committee 1t has
been given to that effect. L want to
tell you that to show that I am strict
ly living up to my principles. When
my private opinion is asked by those
who are cooperating with me, I am
most glad to give it. but I am not at
liberty until I speak for somebody be-
sides myself to urge legislation upon
the congress-
DIR. Shaw Speaks Up.
There was pause and DIR. Anna
Shaw spoke up.
May l ask you a question:" said she.
The president nodded assent.
Since we are members Of no DO
Htical party, who Is to speak for US
II we don't speak for ourselves?"
You do that very admirably" re-
marked the president, and the entire
assemblage Joined in a laugh.
The president thanked his visitors
for calling and said he would like to
shake hands with them. DR.. Shaw
thanked the president for his courtesy
in receiving the delegation and the
members filed by the president.
come from Salt Lake City," Mrs.
Lulu L. Sheppard told the president.
land though my husband voted for
Roosevelt, 1 and my daughter voted
Tor you. so you see what woman suf-
frage can do"
Il hope you will make him a con-
vert" said the president.
Conflicting comments were forth
coming from the delegates when thev
lined up in front Of the executive Of
fees to have their pictures taken. aft-
er the reception. DR.. Shaw expressed
the view that the presidents inter
view was very satisfactory.
''1t was all that we could ask for 81
she said. He il in favor of a com
mittee of the house; that was our
chief purpose in coming to see him. .
Mrs. Shaw added she was much en-.
couraged and expected action by con.
gress. Some one asked Mrs. Medil
Mccormick il she had any comment
to make on the presidents reply.
NO" said Mrs. Mccormick. "l
want to think"
lands Has q Big Docket
Chicago, Dec. 8.-One hundred and
twenty-nine cases involving 5000. OO(
in fines against score Of railroads
were on the calendar of Judge Landf.
in the limited States district coa,rf To