The Washington herald., 1913-12-09
WILSON DECLINES
TO AID SUFFRAGE
President viii Not Recon-
mend ''Votes for Wom-
en-" Amendment.
"RED LIGHT" CRUSADE
Fair Sufragiss Make Tour Of In
spection IN Disorderly House Dis
triet-Wil Fight Evil.

President Wilson refused to urge equal
suffrage legislation upon Congress in a
definite statement to eighty-eight suffra-
Eists who called on him yesterday after
noon in high hope of obtaining promise
of his support for the Federal amend
ment to enfranchise women. Disappoint-
ment among the suffragists was as keen
as the Presidents positive denial was un-
expected.
In explanation of his refusal, the Pres
ident said he was not at liberty to urge
policies upon Congress which had not had
the organic consideration of those for
whom he stood as spokesman.
DIR. Anna Howard Shaw, president Of
the National American Woman Suffrage
Associa ton, spoke for the suffragists,
whose number included representatives
from every State. She asked the Presi-
dent TO send a special message to Con-
gress, urging submission of a Federal
amendment enfranchising women or, TO
include such recommendation in another
message; or to use the administration
influence to secure the establishment of
a suffrage committee in the House OF
Representatives.
Has Recommended Committee
Upon the Presidents decided refusal TO
take any step in support Of their cause,
DR.. Shaw appealed to him to name the
person to whom the women can turn for
a spokesman. The President made
paraphrased application of the story OF
John Alden. telling the deputation that
he believed them capable of speaking for
themselves.
While President Wilson sought to i'm
press upon his visitors that he did not
consider himself at liberty to obtrude his
private convictions upon Congress. he IN
formed them that he had recommended
the creation of a suffrage committee IN
the House to a member OF the House
Rules Committee, who had asked for his
opinion.
Investigation of the Washington red
light district was made by band of
suffragists in the afternoon. These women
explained after their tour among the dis
orderly houses that fringe the House
Office Building, the Capitol. the Postotfice
Department, and those that lie almost
within the shadow of the White House,
that they were deeply Mortified with
what they saw"
Committee TO Fight EVIL.
THE business of the nation is carried
on in the midst of white slave traffic,
said Mrs Thomas w. Hepburn, presi-
dent of the Connecticut Women's Suf-
frage Association, who was one of the
leaders OF the tour. ne AdCl hhah
such conditions can exist in the immedi-
ate neighborhood of the White House
and Capitol is inconceivable. We hope
for the sake of the reputation OF the
National Capital, that the secret caucus
Of the House will allow the Kenyon BILL
which would abolish the segregated dis
trict, to be debated on the floor and
passed.
The leaders of the woman's deputation
that conducted the investigation of the
tenderIoin were Mrs. Hepburn, Mrs. Jes-
sic Hardy Stubbs, of Illinois; Mrs. lrv-
ing MoIler, of Washington, who will lead
the fight for the passage of the Kenyon
red light bill; Miss Elsie Hill, ana
Miss Dora Stevens. of Ohio. The women
started out upon their tour at S:3O O'Clock
i'm the afternoon; inspected first those
disorderly houses near the Munlclpal
Building, and ended their lnves1ga'lols
at the House Office Building.
The committee on the elimination OF
vice from Federal TER
ritory was organized by the women i'm
mediateIy after their personal search
for facts. Upon this committee are
Mrs. Hooker. Mrs. Moller, Mrs. Hep |
burn Miss Hill, Miss Stevens, and MISS
Sarah Farr.
Mrs. MoIler said that the first step |
in the correction of the social evil lies
in closing the regular houses.
We are providing a market Tor
white slaves here in Washington,
she said. And l find it impossible |
TO live where such conditions exist |
without yoicing a public protest.