New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-29
Early Delegates to 45th An
nual Convention Arrive
in Heavy Rainstorm.
WANT WILSON TO PUT
CAUSE IN MESSAGE
Will Exert Psychic Influence in
Hope of Inducing Kindly Men.
ton to Congress.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Nov. 2S.-The suffragists.
slowly assembling for their forthwith an
nual convention. which begins tomorrow
with various committee meetings, but has
its official opening on Sunday with a mass
meeting at Columbia Theatre. hope that
there is no bad omen in the fact that
Washington is welcoming them with
weeping skies. II is depressing. though.
that a steady, beating rain-the kind that
willis the suffragists' plumes and bespat-
tiers the suffragists' boots-has fallen all
the afternoon.
Perhaps because they need cheering up;
perhaps because women are learning TO
run campaigns as men do the executive
board of the National" began its weeks
work with a dinner at the New Willard.
Mrs. Stanley Mccormick was hostess and
DIR. Anna Howard Shaw. Miss Charlotte
Anita Whitney, Mrs. Mary Ware bennett.
Mrs. Susan Walker Fitzgerald, Mrs. liar
riet Burton Laidlaw and Mrs. Louise de
Koven Bowen were the guests-all the
board except Miss Jane Adams. who ar
rives tomorrow. They departed from the
suffrage headquarters, the Bellevue Hotel,
in evening attire-Mrs. Laidlaw in gor
geous pale purple velvet, DR.. Shaw in
shimmering gray silk, thereby giving
great comfort to a faithful suffragist who
was cast down by this conversation be-
tween a man and wife. overheard by the
faithful suffragist in the lobby:
He-Want TO vote, these women. do
they? Well, they'd better learn how 10
dress
She-Yes! How can a woman help being
a trump when she's bothering about the
vote?
And just then Mrs Laidlaw appeared,
a radiant refutaton of that criticism.
Men Organize League.
If the skies are throwing cold water on
the suffragists. at least there are some
faithful men in Washington who are
doing what they can to cheer them. One
hundred male citizens of Washington,
with few from other cities, met tonight
at the Public Library TO form a mems
league for woman suffrage. General An
son Mills. L. S. A, was temporary chair
man, and ellison Gardner was secretary.
Other men there were Colonel Seldom AL
len Day, L. S. A: Judge Delacy. the Rev.
L. G. B. Pierce. Commodore Moore. u. S.
N; Clifford Pinchot and Justice Stafford.
The league will work for the federal
amendment. backing up the women's
Congressional committee.
The great excitement tp-morrOw will e
the arrival of the Illinois delegation
three car loads of women, about one hun
dred in all. Their train comes in at half
past 4. and a delegation will be at
the station to meet them, for Illinois,
having by its recent suffrage victory
added % electoral votes to the womens'
credit, is marked high in the suffrage
roll of honor
The Cabinet is TO be well represented
at the reception Mrs. Robert La Toilette
will give the National Board at her home
on the avenue of the Presidents next
Friday afternoon. Mrs. Franklin K
Lane, wife of the Secretary Of the In
terror; Mrs. David Franklin Houston,
wife OF the Secretary Of Agriculture. and
Mrs Albert S. Bureson, wife of the
Postmaster-General. will be in the receiv-
ing line. 1t is expected that at least
twelve hundred guests will attend this
recepuon-all OF the six hundred delegates
being invited and many members Of
Washington official circles
Want "the Cause" in Message.
Most Of the suffragists are confidently
hoping that President Wilson will put
"the cause" In his message TO Congress.
when the President saw the delegation
of New Jersey suffragsts," Mrs. Joseph
Hardy Stubs. press chairman for the
Washington headquarters said to-day
'he told us that he was much interested
in the question of having a committee or
suffrage In the House and had discussed &
with members Of that body. Now II is
logical TO suppose that he would discuss II
with the Rules Committee, and if he did
we'll we feel in our bones that ne is or
our side in this matter of having a com
mittee TO deal with our bill in the House
Most Of the ants seem to miss the
point Of the Congressional hearing next
Friday. They seem To think wen ask
Congress 10 give US the vote. Nothing OF
the sort. We merely ask for House
committee on suffrage. We don't even
ask that men favorable TO our cause be
appointed"
The suffragists feel that there is some
thing significant and encouraging in the
fact that their convention will be meet
ing at the hour when President Wilson
reads his message to Congress- They
are considering he advisability of halt
irg proceedings for five minutes and
bringing their minds silently 10 bear upon
the President.
ITO be sure" one Of them said to-
night. his message is already written
and on file in ever newspaper office in
the land. but our psychic influence might
lead him TO inject a few kind words for
suffrage If they aren't there already"