The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-19
CONGRESSMAN WILL
NOT TOLERATE
M|LTTANCY
SENATORS AND REPRESENTA-.
T1VES BECOME IMPATIENT
AT ILL-ADyISED ACTIVITIES.
BY p. III. MCGOWAN.


Washington, July ls.--Members OF
congress are becoming impatient al
what they consider the ill-adviseo
activities of some of the woman SUI
frage advocates at the capitol The
feeling is shared by the nonmilitant
suffragists who are represented by the
congressional committee, the official
aids of the National American Wo-
man Suffrage Association In Washing
ton, and has grown more acute since
the visit of the congressional union
early this week with demand on
members of the rules committee that
a meeting be called to pass special
rule for the consideration of the suf-
frage question Immediately.
Friends OF suffrage declare that
their cause is being delayed rather
than advanced by such incidents. II
Is pointed out that in the first place
they invite defeat; and In the second
place. SO many menb srs of congress
are away that no representative action
could be taken on the matter in con-
gress at this time.
Making Grave Mistake.
Representative Lenroot, of yviscon
sin, himself a well known Republican
and snffragist advocate, stated today
that he believed the women were
making grave mistake.
Repeated marching parades and
visiting members OF Congress every
few DAYS by delegations of snffraeists
accomplish nothing" said Mr. Zen
root today, But the extent to which
X has been carried In my Judgment IS
hurtful to their cause rather than
helpful. The demonstrations In the
city Of Washington In my Judgment
have no influence upon the average
members of CONGRESS.
There are but two ways In which
the average member can be reached
One through his intellect to convince
him that the welfare Of the people
Will be better subserved by the pos
session Of the ballot by women or at
the very least viii not be injured.
and that women are as much entitled
10 the ballot as are men.
Educate Voters
III he cannot be reached In this
way. the only other influence thar I
know Of that can be made effectdal is
TO go back and educate he voters OF
his district, not by eenuneiation OF
the man but by converting the voters
themselves TO the cause OF woman
suffrage. If the average member be
lieves that the voters who elected him
desire woman suffrage. he will very
rapidly. as a rule. become a .sufffagist
himself
Il think suffragists would make
more rapid rrogTess If tf1Ev wrTTtrt
realize that the question of woman
suffrage should be treated as any
other question Of public policy L.,
treated. and that 10 make progress
there must be a sentiment builded up
throughout the country for the
policy desired. Men Interested IN a
given policy would not advance that
policy by repeated marchings up and
down PENNSYLVANIA avenue
Helpful Demonstrations,
Occasional demonstrations are in
my Judgment helpful In securing pub
lieity, but they should ne only for the
purpose OF attracting attention 10 the
cause and with the realization thar
the demonstration itself complishes
nothing else. Education must follow.
and dem onstrations too often repeated
are likely 10 he regarded as being all
there is to the movement
IS one who has voted for wor1n n
suffrage in my own State ard has
spoken for II there, I very much re-
greet to see any policy inauguratesi
that may lead 10 the adoption Of the
tactics of the militant snffrag.sts az
England. To adopt such tactics In
this country would destroy IN my
judgment all that has been accom-
pished during the past ten years. and
SO long as Il existed there would be
no progress whatever made along the
line of securing the ballot to wome n. -