The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-12-11
PRESIDENT TELLS
SUFFS HE CANNOT
URGE PROPAGANDA

Washington, Dec. president Will
son today told a delegation from the
National American Woman's Suffrage
association that he favored a standing
woman's suffrage committee in the
House of Representatives, but he de-
MED their request that he send a spec
ial message to congress urging the re-
fore.
Marching by twos and tours, with
banners afloat, the suffragists braved
chill winds of a raw day to storm the
White House offices. They were 500
ushered n the presidents private
office and formed in a circle about Mr..
Wilson.
DR.. Anna Howard Shaw, president OF
the association, summarized briefly
THAR appeal to the president to assist
the movement either by sending a
special message to congress-, by includ-
ing reference to suffrage in any gen.
eral message he might deliver or by
using his influence to have a special
committee appointed to consider the
subject.
Explains His Views.
IT want you ladies, if possible" said
the president to the delegation, IF
can make it clear to you, to realize
just what my present situation is.
Whenever 1 walk abroad I realize ]
am not a free man; I am under arrest.
l am SO carefully and admirably
guarded that I AVE not even the priv
ilege Of walking the streets. That is,
as it We're, typical Of my present rams
ference from being an individual with
his mind on n INT every subject, to
being an official Of a great govern
ment, incidentally or so it falls out I'M
der our system Of government, the
spokesman Of a party.
Il set myself this very strict rule
Il when T was governor of New JerSeY
and have followed it as president and
shall follow it as president-that / am
not at liberty to urge On congress in
messages policies which have not had
h organic consideration Of those for
whom 1 am spokesman.
"In other words, 1 have not yet pre-
scented to any legislature my private
views on any subject, and 1 never shall
because I conceive that to be part OF
the whole progress of government
that T shall be spokesman for some
body, not for myself. 1t would be an
impertinence. When I speak for my
self I am an Individual; when l am
spokesman Of an organic body, I am a
representative.
Can't "Start Anything"
For that reason, you see, I am by
my own principles, shut out In the
language of the street, from starting
anything.
Il nave TO CONNIE HlySell W tLoso
things which have been embodied as
promises to the people at an election.
That is the strict rule l set for my
self.
II want to say that with regard to
all other matters, 1 am not only glad
to be consulted by my colleagues In
the houses, but I hope they will only
pay me the compliment of consulting
me when they want to kno my opin-
ion on any subject. One membe OF
the rules committee did come to me
and asked me what | thought about
the subject Of preparation Of a special
committee of the House, as the Senate
has already appointed a special COM
mittee for considering woman suffrage,
and I told him I thought it was a
proper thing to do. So far as my per-
sonal advice has been asked by the
single member of the congress 1t has
been given to that effect. l want to
tell you that to show that I am strict
ly 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 else be-
sides myself, to urge legislation On the
congress-"
President Gets a Laugh.
There was a pause and DR.. Anna
Shaw spoke up:
May / ask you a question" she SAID.
The president nodded assent.
"Since we are members of no
political party, who is to speak for us
If we don't speak for ourselves?"
"You do that very admirably" re-