Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-18
Ask President to Recon-
mend to Special Session
Action in Their Behalf:
Has Not Yet Decided.
WOULD AMEND
THE CONSTITUTION
Advocates Of Votes for.
Women Told That Mr..
Wilson Was Not Commit
ting Himself.

washington, IL. O., March 17.--Suf-
Irage for the women of the United
states by constitutional amendment
was formally presented to President
wilson today by committee OF ma
tlonal leaders in the movement Mr..
wilson was urged to recommend to
the special session Of congress action
on such an amendment but he told his
visitors he had not made up his mind
on the suffrage question.
Ihe president was courteous and
sympathetic throughout" said Mrs. Ida
Hustled Harper of New York, ana
prominent In the woman suffrage as.
sOciation,
He said that there were many
pressing questions to come up at the
extra session and that If he did not
recommend action on suffrage he did
not want it to be taken as an Indication
OF his general attitude, as he was not
committing himself yet"
Said Wilson is Open Minded.
Other members OF the party said the
president viewed woman suffrage as !
question Of great practical Importance.
There were Indications they said that
the president was open minded on the
subject.
The committee had haIf l,ostrg of
the presidents time. Mrs. Harvey w.
Wiley Of the Housekeepers Alliance.
set forth the value of suffrage from
the rieW point OF the mother influence
ing society. Mrs. Claude " stone.
wife OF Representative Stone Of Illi-
nois argued that only by amendment
to the federal constitution could there
be immediate general action.
Miss Bartlett Dixon and Miss Alice
Paul, chairman of the congressional
committee seeking woman suffrage
said the question was equivalent IN
Importance to the emancipation OF the
negro.
Every word you have said,' they
told the president, "for the political
liberty OF men can be applied to the
political liberty Of women" Mrs.
Harper smilingly informed the presi-
dent that there never were such
arguments made for woman suffrage
as he himself had given in his last
book. She quoted the following pas
sage:
Cites His Own Book.
Il don't want Snug lot OF experts
to sit down behind closed doors In
Washington and play providence to-
me. If any part of our people want
to be wards, If they want to have
guardians put over them. II they want
to be taken care Of. II they want to he
children patronized by the govern
ment, why am sorry because 1t will
sap the manhood Of America
Mrs. Harper declared that women
too, did not want men playing provi.
dence to them behind closed doors In
Washington or In the various state
capitals
Mrs. Harper reminded the president
that Miss Susan B. Anthony pleaded
with Mr.. Roosevelt shortly after he
took Office and during his administra-
ton appeals were made to him not to
leave the presidency without recogniz-
ing suffrage. A similar but futile ap-
peal she said had been made to Presi.
dent Taft.
Almost century ago the greatest
step which has ever been taking BY
the democratic party occurred with the
enfranchisement of the working man.
We ask that the democratic party take
another great step in giving the vote
to women"
Police Have Their Turn.
Police captains In charge OF the
men along the line of march OF the
suffrage parade on March 8 had their
innings today before the senate sub
committee investigating the disorders
that interfered with the procession.
Captain Daniel Sullivan said he had
little trouble preserving order. Cap
tain Sullivan outlined his orders from
Superintendent Sylvester to keep the
roadway clear. He said he carried
out the orders to the best Of his
ability Captain Sullivan said that
Sylvester had shown solicitude for ths
women and showed an evident purpose
to have everything 70 off pleasantly.
Captain J. P. Hollenberger, in com.
mand Of the force on. the section Of
the avenue where great disorder oc-
CURED, said that when he and his
men reached their posts at 1880 O'clock
on the day Of the parade. the street
was filled with people from building
line to building line
"At no time did have the crowd
under control" said the captain. "As
fast as we would force one man back
two would fill his place"
His men. he said made eight m
rests for disorderly conduct.