The Washington herald., 1914-11-01
EXPLAINS Fight
ON DEMOCRATS
Emily K. Perry Tells Of Cam
paign in West by Con-
gressiOnal Union.
TAKES WILSON'S ADVICE
Organization Told to Go to the Party
and 1t Has Gone. She
Declares.
TAKES WILSON'S ADVICE
By EMILY KERsHAw PERRY,

tOrg1ni1er for Oongfesalonal Bnlonl
Deprived Of the vote themselves, the
women Of the East Cor perhaps l should
say. with apologies to those who do mot
approve Of the policy pursued, some OF
the women Of the EasD have bee nusing
their indirect influence in a new way in
the West, this fall, to the great delight
OF the anti-suffragists. who urge this
as . proof of the entire uselessness OF
any more direct way For the first
time in American political history.
women have taken an active part in
fall election campaign.
AS the campaign Is now nearly over
and election day almost here. il may
be of interest to the reading public to
have for reference q resume Of this de-
parture from the old time-worn paths Of
patient waiting for the men to make
up their great minds to give women the
vote" to 4 concentration on political
action, on the part of one branch of the
suffrage organization in America. which
has caused such excitement in suffrage,
anti-suffrRge and political worlds.
The Congressional Union for Woman
Suffrage which has been called by some,
the insurgent suffrage organization, Of
the United States, announced its policy
OF opposing the Democratic party this
fall, at a meeting held September l3. the
day before Congressional Union campaign
organizers left for the West
The women OF Washington. who are
here for the specific purpose Of watch
ing Congress-" and securing action or
the Bristow- -MondeIl amendment. an
nounced that, at present. with an antag-
onistic party in power in both Houses.
all time, energy and money spent in
appealing to the men in Congress. by
parades and lengthy petitions, are an
absolute waste"
Woman's patience Is not as long en-
during In fact as IL is in fable, and
II Is good for humanity that this is so.
Some women are convinced that patience
beyond a certain Epoint, ceases TO be
virute and becomes something very like
moral cowardice. These are the women
who have stopped waiting with folded
hands. and have gone into the enfran-
chised West with appeals to the women
voters TO use their votes for the good
Of other women, and they feel sure of
success Word has come from every
one Of these States Of the intense inter
est felt there in the policy Of the Con-
gressionRl Union.
The antaEonism Of the Democratic
party has shown itself at every turn.
And. since the leader Of that party told
the women they would have to go to
the party" they have taken his good
advice. They have gonI to the Demo
cratic party. in the persunS Of the party
leaders Of the different important COM
mittees. persistsntly and patiently. for
over a year. They have taken and have
sent TO those leaders. hundreds Of thou
sands Of ma mes signed to petitions. They
have had over twelve giant parades and
demonstrations In Washington. They
have sent seven delegations OF women
to the President: have had innumerable
mass meetings. They have literally
"camped out in the corridors Of the
Capitol. making frequent visits to lead
ing Democratic Senators and Represent
atives-
At one time. they received signed
pledges from a sufficient number Of MEM
bers OF the all powerful Rules Commit
tee, to vote In favor Of a woman suffrage
committee in the House OF Represent
atives, TO have secured the majority
vote necessary. And. in the night.
enough of the Democrats who had signed
those pledges. turned their coats" and
voted nay. or ahsented themselves from
voting at sH. to defeat the measure. The
women's decision to put no further trust
- Congressman, unaided by votes from
their home State constituents seems not
altogether unreasonable
The President OF the party. which has
determined once for aIr' that woman