Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1913-12-12
WILSON SUPPORTS
SUFFRAC|sTS' PLAN
President Says He Favors
blouse Committee"
HE CAN'T START ANYTHING
Executive Asserts He Won't Write
Message--TelIs Suffrage Leaders
Party Principles Prevent
Urging Legislation.

Washington, Dec. 10.-The president
told a delegation from the National
American Woman's Suffrage associa-
fion Monday that he favored stand
ing womans suffrage committee in
the house Of representatives, but he
refused their request that he send a
special message to congress urging
the reform.
: DIR. Anna Howard Shaw, president
of the association, summarized brief
ly their appeal to the president to as
sist the movement either by sending
a special message to congress, by in
Guiding reference to suffrage in any
general message he might deliver or
by using his influence to have a
special committee of the house ap-
pointed to consider the subject.
Il want you, ladies'" said the presi-
dent to the delegation, ito realize
just what my present situation is, If l
can make 1t clear to you.
Whenever l walk abroad | real
ice l am not a free man; l am under
arrest. | am SO carefully and admir-
ably guarded that have not even the
privilege of walking the streets.
That is, as it were, typical of my pres
Ient transference from being an indi-
'vidual with his mind on any and every
subject, to being an official Of a great
government and, incidentally, or so 1t
falls out under our system of govern
ment, the spokesman of party.
II set myself this very strict rule
when | was governor of New Jersey,
and have followed it as president and
shall follow it as president-that l
am not at liberty to urge UPON con-
gress in messages policies which have
not had the organic consideration Of
those for whom | am spokesman.
I'm other words, | have not yet pre-
sented to any legislature my private
views on any subject, and / never
shall because l conceive that to be
part of the whole process of govern
ment, that / shall be spokesman for
somebody, not for myself 1t would
be an impertinence. When | speak
for myself am an individual; when l
am spokesman of an organic body !
am a representative.
For that reason, you see, / am by
my own principles shut out, In the
language OF the street, from starting
anything / have to conf1ne myself
to those things which have been en-
bodied as promises to the people at
an election. That is the strict rule !
set for myself.
Il want to say that with regard to
ali other matters-I 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-
fsulting me when they want to know
my opinion on any subject One mem
Der of the rules committee did come
to me and ask me what | thought
about the suggestion of APP hitting a
special committee of the house, as
the senate already has appointed a
ton of woman's suffrage.
II told him l thought 1t was a
proper thing to do. SO far as my
personal advice has been asked by
single member of the committee it
has been given to that effect l want
to tell you that TO show that am
strictly living up to my principles.
When my private opinion is asked by
those who are cooperating with me,
/ am most glad to give 1t, but am not
at liberty, until speak for somebody
besides myself, to urge legislation
upon the congress.
Doctor Shaw expressed the view
that the presidents interview was
very satisfactory.