The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
SUFFRAGE LEADERS
 START NEW ATTACK
Steps Taken to Place Every Member of Congress on
 Record on Question

Washington, October 16-fSpeciaI) From more or less distant bombardment of Congress and from scattered battles in various states the woman suffrage forces have started a bayonet attack on the in- dividual members of the House and are endeavoring to prod them into line for suffrage in advance of the congressional election. How do you stand on woman suffrage?' is a question just put up to the statesmen in a circular letter-a letter carefully woded to avoid intimidation, yet also to convey word of warning to the recipient
 You perhaps do not know to what ex- tent the women have organized for the purpose of winning out when the ques- tion goes before the voters" said part of the epistle. Virtually every state today is covered by a network of suffrage leagues in each city and town, and by No vember even the farming communities and the rural sections will have home missionaries in their midst"
 Apparently, the suffragists propose to follow the lines of the prohibition and local option workers in many sections and put candidates on record, supporting those who favor suffrage and opposing in every way those who oppose it. As a matter of fact, however this plan has not been generally successful in tho pro- hbition and local option fights, and many veterans opine that the women eventually will find it wise to drop 1t and adopt some other line.
 Of great interest and significance, how ever, is the recent organization in Wash ington of a band of southern women to carry the campaign into the southland and to make 1t an issue within the dem ocratic party, which in the south has not been enthusiastic on woman suffrage sug gestions. Prominent in this group of daughters of the south are the wives and other close relatives of many southern congresmen who have been outspoken against woman suffrage and have voted against it, directly or indirectly, when- ever the opportunity offered. Now these statesmen not only will be under constant fire under their own vine and figtree. but also must face the music in their dis tricts where the women propose to play raetme for all who fail to fall into line.
 Without committing himself on the principle of woman suffrage, Speaker Clark has openly expressed belief that a resolution for a woman suffrage amend ment would be passed by this or the next Congress, and Champ is a prophet not without honor in Washington. At all events, the women seem determined to make his prediction come true
 The "conversion' of Representative Mann, republican leader in the House. from anti-suffra eism to the womens side is only one straw indicative of the direc- ton in which the political wind is blow ing, and no one will be prodigiously sur prsed should even "Cotton Tom Hefiin see a great light some fine day, even as did Saul of Tarsus At all events, Heflin and the other ''antis'' already are finding it hard to kick against the pricks," and may vet be forced to capitulate, in the face of such warnings as those now be- ing circulated in congressional circles. To get right down t2 hard, cold facts, probably not one man in 100, be he states man or layman, is sincerely in favor of woman suffrage, even though he may shout and wear suffragist colors But, discretion is the better part of valor. and | for discretion the average 'statesman'' has no equal in enthusiasm