New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-01
WOMEN MATCH PLEAS
OVER RIGHT TO VOTE
Argue Before House Committee
For and Against Franchise
in Congress Elections.
CLASHES MAR THE HEARING
Suffragists and Ants" Dispute
in Giving Evidence and in
the Corridors, and Some
Show Anger.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau !

IFrom The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Jan. 3l.-Woman suffragists
and anti-sufragists thronged the big hear
ing room in the House office building to-
night. matched arguments before men,
oers of the House Committee on Election
Of President. Vice-President and Repre-
sentatives in Congress, who were them
selves at odds over ballots for women.
and then walked out into the corridors
and engaged in informal joint debates
over the relative merits of the French
bill. suggested as a model for granting
women the right to vote for members Of
Congress.
The hearing proper was marked by sew
eral exciting passages. and in the cor
ridors one woman, who refused to give
her name. referred 70 another woman.
who also would not give her name. as
that creature in that frightfu looking
green hat"
The mysterious woman in the green hat
had Just taken the other mysterious wom-
an to task, asserting: II hear you are
circulating reports that one OF the anti
suffragst leaders is in the employ Of the
liquor interests"
Yes" was the quick rotort. II think
she is low down woman, and your hat
doesn't look like YOU are any too good"
While Miss Annie Riley Hale OF New
York. an ardent anti-suffragist was an
sWering the arguments of suffragists who
had appeared during the day a woman
arose in the centre OF the room and said:
Two anti-suffragists have already spo-
ken. / would like TO know how many OF
you are here tonight"
"Antis" in Minority.
Miss Hale started 10 explain that the
anti-suffragists had not been advised I'M
til late Of the night session. and conse-
quently their ranks were reduced. Her
inquisitor. Mrs. Clara W. MacNaughton.
of Washington, said:
Let all the anti suffrsgists present
raise their hands,
About two score hands were raised.
Now let the sunragists raise their
hands"
More than a hundred hands shot into
the air, among them being those OF sew
eral husbands and fathers.
Mr. Chairman" shouted Representa-
tive Tribblc. member OF the committee.
Il protest against this. We are holding q
solemn hearing here. We are not "otin';,
and ] move that this entire colloquy be
stricken from the record. No one has i
right to have the ladies' present raise
their hands
Representative Hobson, who believes in
woman suffrage. rallied TO the defence OF
Mrs. MacNauChton, IT make q point OF
order against the gentleman's notion
he shouted.
Representative Hefiin. of Alabama who
had appauded the arguments Of those
opposed to womans suffrage, said: II
desire 10 call the attention IF the char
TO the fact that a number Of the suffra-
gists raised both hands at once"
From the anti suffragist ranks came
groans. while the suffragists laughed, and
Mr.. Tribble. red with anger, exclaimed:
II protest against this performance. II
is undignificd. Strike il all from the rec
ord
What vote does the record show
asked a member of the committee. The
official stenogra pher shook his head. He
had not had q chance To look at the up
raised digits.
Mrs MacNaughton finally withdrew her
question. expressed regret that she had
asked for a show Of strength between
the warning feminine camps, and com
parative calm was restored