The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-02
WOMEN MAY TINKER
THE CONSTITUTION
SO Says Mayor Mitchell and He
Makes His Opinion Most
Emphatic.
OSBORN Is NOT so SURE
Suggest Nominating Them as
Delegates and Letting
Courts Decide.
OSBORN IS NOT so SURF

Should some Of the delegates to the
Constitutional convention be women?
Mayor Mitchell says emphatically Yes"
William Church Osborn. Democratic State
chairman. not certain that the sex Ia
legally eligible. suggests that women be
nominated In the primaries and that the
question he settled afterward In the
courts.
Replies OF the Mayor and Mr. Osborn
to letters from Miss Corneha +. Bryce.
treasurer OF an organization whose title
delights space writers--the women's
Temporary Committee OF the State OF
New York for Representation In the Con.
stltutional Convention-were made public
yesterday. Miss Lillian u. wald In chair
man. Mrs. Ogden Mills Reid vice-chair-
man: Miss Ann Rhodes secretary. and
Miss Harriet y Lowens,ein. executive
secretary. The object Is ito secure for
the women OF this State who are working
for sociai and civic betterment a voice
IN the formulation OF the fundamental law
under which such work is done
In his letter Mayor Mitchell said he
was thoroughly in fave of woman con-
stltutional delegates. both In principle
: anu pffNtlVt Win these pTONlSOs.
That only such women be selected as
had already rendered services TO the
community.
That this service might be educational
philanthroplc. Industrial. health and pub
| lie safety
That 1t he understood that women 70
az representatives OF the community and
not as representing special women's in
terests, as distinguished from those ot
men
That women qualified mentally and by
experience 10 take part with credit in
the debates Of the convention be selected
Mr.. Osborn told the committee that he
was much impressed" with the arRu-
/ ments in a brief cent to him by the com
/ mittee. lie continued
u have not however been able to ex-
anime the law upon the other side and
cannot advise YOU as To the arguments
/ In opposition to those OF your brief.
ut is not probable that the State COM
/ mittee Or the state conference will en-
/ deavor to select delegates To the constitu-
/ uonal convention, as we are in hopes that
! the people OF the different localities in
the State will themselves bring forward
/ candidates for this important Office and
+ place them In the primary election.
This would seem to me to offer to
! the women Of the state an opportunity
/ TO test legally and finally tho questions
raised by your interesting brief I see
/ no reason why a candidate or candidates
! OF your sex should not he put in nom
/ ination by the petition OF the requisite
/ number of voters under the primary law.
/ either for delegates to the constitutional
/ convention or for delegates at large. In
case this action is followed IL would prob
ably he taken up for early action by the
! court and the question of eligibility would
be decided. II would he an interesting
and valuable feature Of the election this
fall and would doubtless receive strong
| support from many quarters. | do not
/ think that the candidates will come for
ward much before the goth OF August
/ this year. because the operations OF the
primary law are so unknown to the peo-
| pie, ~ that there is abundance of time
| for you and your associates to take the
action suggested"