The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-31
Bearing Petitions and Demand
ing "VOtes for Women
PRECEDED BY A BIG PARADE
Suffrage Committee Heads
March on the Capitol.
Senatorial Dignity Is Given a
Rude Shock.

Washington, July 31.-''Votes for
women were demanded today by dele
cations of suffragists from every state
in the union who besieged the senate
chamber and bombarded the senator's
with petitions bearing thousands of sig
natures urging consideration of a wo-
man suffrage constitutional amend
ment
The siege of the senate followed a
demonstration, in the course of which
hundreds of women paraded from
Hyattsville, Nd. through the country
roads and the city streets down Penn
sylvania avenue and through the capf-
tol grounds.
Members of the senate woman suf-
frage committee, which has already
favorably reported the suffrage amend
ment, met the petition bearers and
rode to the capitol with them.
Miss Alice Paul, chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee of the National
American Woman Suffrage association
officers of the association and the SEN
ate committee headed the parade At
the capitol it disbanded and a cloud
of femininity fiuttered into the senate
wing. The dignified hush of the impos-
ing marble room just off the senate
chamber was shattered by the demands
of women from various states, that
their cards be taken to their senator's
part of an hour. hurrying senators
from the chamber to meet their con
stituents" armed with petitions.
After the petitions had been present.
ed, the delegations hocked to the gal
leries, where seats had been reserved
and the woman suffrage supporters on
the floor of the senate took charge OF
the demonstrations Senators owen,
Ashurst, Poindexter, Jones, Works,
Lane, Smoot. Clapp, Thomas. Shaf-
roth and Hollis made brief addresses
endorsing the petitions
Senator owen OtIIcidlly presented the
petitions to the senate.
The reasons for this request on the
part of the women of the country.
he said, are overwhelming and unan-
swerable and the time has come when
they must be considered with dignity,
with unbiased mind. free from preju-
dice or passion, in the interest Of the
welfare of the human race.
Il don't appeal to men from a party
standpoint or call their attention to
the effect which may be expected 70
follow if either one of the great parties
should go so far as to insult the g.
100000 women who now have the fun
suffrage in America by contemptuOusiy
denying a right so obviously just ana
so obviously necessary to the welfare,
the progress and the happiness of the
people of America. but I will remind
YOU that great party with high ideals,
casting over 100000 votes last year,
declared for woman suffrage and the
question can no longer be ignored.
Tonight the suffragists will continue
their demonstration at a banquet to
be attended by members of the house
and senate.
Senator Chamberlain (Ore.). author
of the woman'S suffrage amendment
now before the senate, made an ad-
dress of welcome
I'VE welcome you to the national
ca pital as the representatives Of hun
dreds of thousands of patriotic men
and women of the United States" said
he. "You are the bearers Of petit
tions to congress praying that justice
shall be done to the women OF the
land.
''I extend to you a cordial welcome
as the bearers of a message from the
people of the whole country to the
congress of the United States, and
wish to express the hope that your
mission may be successful beyond
hopes and expectations"
Practically every senator was arm
ed with a bundle of the petitions, bound
with the yellow ribbon of the suffra-
gists.
Senator Smoot. presenting the Utah
petitions, attacked militancy in the
fight for suffrage
Suffrage should be given, not to the
Pankhursts and the militant radicals
among our women" he said, but to
those who follow in the womanly foot
steps of the American pioneers for 5uf-
frage, Mary Ellen Foster, Susan i.
Anthony and others"
Senators Jones, Washington; Thomas
and Shafroth. Colorado; Gallinge-.
Works. California, and
followed.