New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-10
SAYS WILSON LOST
fine OPPORTUNITY
DIR. Shaw Thinks He Would
Rank with Lincoln if He
Gave Women Vote.
is SURE THAT HE
BELIEVES IN 1T
Sorry the President Lacked
Courage to lmmortalize
Himself.

DR.. Anna Howard Shaw, president or
the National American Woman Suffrage
Association. did somethinS besides talk
10 President Wilson when he received the
votes for women delegation last Monday.
She took note of the lines of his jaw.
II looked at that square jaw. which
indicates determination she said yester-
day, on her return TO her desk In the
national headquarters. No. sos Fifth ave
nue.. land | decided that we had better
not antagonize the President
DR.. Shaw really feels no call 10 an
tagonize him, however. for she considers
the interview was quite satisfactory. She
even succeeded in putting Mr. Wilson in
a corner She obliged him to answer Il
leading question, and the answer was one
that pelased her, though it was the word
No"
when nc told us that, feeling himself
spokesman for his party, not for himself,
he could not urge upon Congress any
measure not touched i'm the Democratic
platform" she said. II inquired if |
might ask him a question. He said |
might. / said: Mr.. President since you
cannot present our case TO Congress, and
since we have no committee in the House,
who is to speak for us there? He re-
turned laughingly that he had found us
we'll able TO speak for ourselves. where
upon, ! said: But not authoritatively.
Have we any one. Mr.. President, TO pre-
sent our case with authority to Con-
gress?' He hesitated moment the
muscles OF face twitched. | was dread
fully frightened myself. and I do believe
he was as much frightened; but he didn't
evade the question, he answered squarely.
No
And TO my mind" said DR.. Shaw,
that NO was the most important thing
i'm the interview. | was much encouraged
by the way in which he received us. In
stead of standing i'm a doorway and
Fastening us along with hand shakes, as
Presidents usually do on such occasions,
he saw us in the office where he transacts
his business. / was still so afraid he'd
pass us along before ! had my say that
! began speaking the minute l got up to
him. Then he said very pleasantly that
il waited till all the ladies got in-there
we're ninety-four Of us-there would be
less confusion. So ! waited, and he gave
most courteous attention to everything l
said
Although Dir. Shaw thinks OF the inter
view with pleasure, and considers that the
delegates made a practical advance III
the Presidents statement to them that he
believed the House should have COM
mttee, as the Senate has, for the consid-
Grafton OF woman suffrage, she is sorry
that Mr.. Wilson has not the greatness to
immortalizc himself by enfranchising
women, as Abraham Lincoln immOrtaliZed
himself by enfranchising the negroes.
Think" she said, "if the women of
this country were made free in his admin
istration, it would be the thing he'd be
remembered for in history. We gave him
the chance, and he didn't take il. but
well give him other chances. lie has
more messages TO write, and we'll not let
him forget US.
Il am more sorry for Mr.. Wilson's sake
than for ours that he has not had the
courage 10 speak for our enfranchisement,
and am the more sorry because / think
he believes in il. He could not have writ
ten the words he has written in the new
freedom and not believe in 1t.
'I admire the President. ! admire his
course in averting a Mexican war, but I
think he is mistaken in considering him
self the spokesman Of his party. He
,hould be the spokesman Of his country