Evening journal., 1913-12-02
SUFFRAGISTS
In CONVENTION
Miss Paul Tells Delegates
"VOteS for Women" Are
About Assumed

WASHINGTON, Dec. $50 far 335
delegates, representing practically every
State in the Union, have arrived to at
tend the National Woman Suffrage As
sociation's convention, and many more
are expected today New York, with AZ
in attendance; Connecticut, with 80 had
the next largest delegation, and Massa,
chusetts, IS; Pennsylvania, 26, and Illi-
nois 25, followed. Delaware had five
delegates.
The morning session nominally was a
meeting of the executive committee.
But delegates were not excluded and
they got their first glimpse of what prom
ises TO be one OF the big fights of the
convention when the question arose of
admitting organizations TO the national
association direct, without requiring of
them membership in the associations of
their respective States. 1t arose simply
as one detail of the proposed new eonsti-
tuti-n of the naIi9nal association
which the committee had under consid-
Grafton and which it discussed without
dehhite results. In the absence OF DIR.
Anna Howard Shaw, who was wearied
by the mass meeting on Sunday, Miss
Jane Addams, of Chicago, presided.
Miss Alice Paul, suffragist of inter
national reputation and experience
and chairman Of the Congressional
Union, which is chiefly occupied in
pushing the suffrage cause before
Congress and obtaining the submis-
sion of a constitutional amendment
granting universal suffrage" brought
a word of cheer and optimism.
She assured the delegates that they
would not need to hold many more
conventions, that victory was at hand.
She hoped and believed that the con-
sttutional amendment would be
agreed to within a very few years; in
fact, they hoped to get 1t through at
this session. And she urged every
delegate to give her Congressman,
and any other with whom she had
Influence, no peace until that amend
ment went through, to pull every
possible wire TO that end, and not be
satisfied with anything less. She
said
Times have changed since
President Wilson two years ago
declined to express himself as to
suffrage, and said that it was not
'fn national politics." He knows
now that It is and not merely a
matter of domestic economy on
each State.
Comprehensive reports were made
by Mrs Katharine Dexter Mccormick
national treasurer; Mrs. James Lees
Laidlow, national auditor: Mrs.
Susan Walker Fitzgerald, recording
secretary; Mrs. Mary Ware bennett,
corresponding secretary, and by the
chairmen of Press, Literature and
other committees.
The flashlights Of photographers
raised the amusing cry Of "the mili-
tants." as, in the use of bombs. they
are not supposed to distinguish be-
tween friends and foes.
Mrs o. Ii. p Belmont of New York
was among those present, and, though
for the moment taking no active part in
the proceedings, was a centre of inter
est Mrs. Inez AIilholland Boissevair
was in her company most of The time
Mrs. Raymond Brown, picturesque
with her youthful face and white hair
was much in evilenO, in the aisles.
The evening session was given over to
a jubilee in charge of states that have
recently won suffrage victories, led by
Illinois. Alaska shared Illinois jubila.
tion. The Governor of Alaska sent Mary
Ware bennett, the associations CORE.
spending secretary, a photograph OF
himself when he signed the bill that
was to give women the vote in tho
frozen north.
Catherine Waugh McCulloch. Ellis
Seass Stewart, Grace Wilbur Trout, An
toinette Funk Ruth Mccormick ane
Elizabeth X. Booth told of the victory il
Illinois.
Miss Lucy Burns spoke ON the desired
national amendment And DR.. Anna
Howard Shaw made her annual addres.
as president of the association.