The Washington times., 1914-01-15
DR.. SHAW DISOBEYS
ORDERS, IS CHARGE

DR.. Anna. Howard Shaw is disobeying
the expressed Instructions OF the Ma
tional Womans Suffrage Association in
failing to uphold the Congressional
Unions policy of holding the Democratic
party responsible for failure to enact
suffrage measures, according to a state
ment given out today at the headquar-
tiers Of the Congressional Union. where
surprise was expressed at what was
termed the remarkable statement given
out Wednesday by DR.. Shaw.
Miss Alice Paul. chairman of the
union. would make no further explana-
tions. but in her office it was stated that
it was apparently DR.. Shaw's desire to
terminate the relations that have ex-
listed between the National Association
and the union.
IF this is So" it was added, lit is
her desire and not ours. as the Tnion
will continue its political activities and
leave It to the next national convention
TO determine whether DR.. Shaw's posi-
tion shall be supported"
Endorsed By Convention.
1t vas explained that the recent
convention indorsed the policy of the
Congressional Union, advocated by Miss
Lucy Burns. to attack the Democratic
party If it failed to enact the suffrage
amendment. Miss Paul proposed even
more radical measures, it is said, and
these policies were also approved.
Among Miss Paul's friends it is in
1imated that the strength developed at
the recent convention by Miss Paul and
the unquestioned evidence of her popu-
larIty may be at the bottom Of the pres
ent movement to handicap her and dis
credit her work.
Dr p-'S
sionRl Union in general and Miss Paul
IN particular is regarded by many as
being vicious. In ii she denounces, the
policies of the union as un-American,
and alleges that Miss Paul and Miss
Burns were attempting to dominate the
suffrage situation through leadership of
a body which is in itself anti-suffrage,
because its members are not allowed
she says, any voice in the selection of
its leaders.
Will Help Friends.
Miss Paul, following the lines Of
Mrs. Pankhurst has announced the in
tention of her body to fight the Demo-
cratic party, as the party in power"
said Dr. Shaw, ''in case it fails to pass
a suffrage amendment at the present
session. She states that the Congress
sional Union will fight every Demo
cratic candidate in districts where there
is likely to be a close election. In such
cases, the national association will
send out, speakers to assist every mem
beT of Congress so attacked, who has
shown himself to be friend of woman
suffrage. Our body is non-partisan, and
we shall always help our friends
Miss Paul's statement that the Con-
gressiOnal Union is organizing a general
movement for parades in every State, to
take place May 2 is completely mis-
leading If not more. These parades
have been planned for weeks, and some
for months, long before any such idea
was conceived by the Congressional
Union.
This body is simply a group, with
self-elected leaders. who allow neither
voting nor criticism by the members,
and make no reports of expenditures.
It's leaders know nothing of American
politics or even party names, referring
to the Democrats, for instance. as the
government party as is done in Eng
land. They are not national in spirit or
in their work.