The Washington herald., 1914-10-21
ny IpA Hustled HARPER.

ny IDA Hustled HARPER.
From the time that the congressiona
Union, headed by Miss Alice Paul and
Miss Lucy Burns, announced its inten.
ton of going into the States where
women vote and Of waging q war against
the Democratic candidates there has been
vigorous objection from many suffra.
gists- The offlcial board OF the National
Association has repeatedly denounced
this action, and Its president, DR.. Anna
Howard Shaw, has sent personal letters
to the State presidents, which have been
widely published, protesting especially
against efforts TO defeat Democratic
Senators, who for many years have
been Of the greatest help to the cause,
such men as Senators Thomas and Shaf-
roth, OF Colorado.
1t must be said, however, that the
action Of the Democratic National Com
rnittes last week in forbIdding the mem
oers Of the Cabinet to mention woman
suffrage IN their campaign speeches be-
tween now and election has driven
thousands Of women TO indorse the pol
icy Of the Congressional Union to wage
war on that party. II was a high
hahded action which ought to be re-
sented by men ~ well as women, and II
Cabinet ministers tamely submit to be
muEzled on what is now universally rec
ogniEed as national question, the suf-
fragists will be justified in holding the
entire party responsible.
Here, for instance. IL Secretary Bryan,
who declared in his recent manifesto
fAvortng woman suffrage: The voters
OF Nebraska will at the election in No
vember adopt or reject an equal suf-
rage amendment As citizen OF that
State / must participate In the decision.
am not in doubt as to my
duty" And yet. acting under orders
from the Democratic National Commit
tee. he must not during his speaking
tour in Nebraska just before the cleo
ton make any reference to this amend
ment.
the States where women now can vote
and appeal to them to cast their ballots
for the Democratic candidates, but they
must no. say one word to help the
women in those other States where the
coming election will decide whether
they shall have the right to vote. The
Congressional Union could not ask for
a stronger argument in favor OF its pol
icy.
OF course this order may not be an
unmixed evil, as only half Of the Cab
met are known to be in favor Of woman
suffrage, but IL may be safely assumed
that even without an Official embargo
the opponents would have been too
shrewd to declare publicly against It.
while those in favor could have vastly
helped the amendments in the various
States by giving their Endorsement. Be
fore the Democratic Cabinet is cast
into outer darkness however. let the
women diligently search the records to
find one Republican Cabinet OF which !
anywhere near half the members de- |
ciared themselves to be for equal suf- |
frag.
Meanwhile the women in the States |
where suffrage amendments are pend !
ing will doubtless adopt the plan OF /
their English sisters and heckle the |
eminent speakers until they will have |
TO answer or run. II Is reported that |
Mr.. Bryan is already hedging In ad- |
vance by saying to the Ohio women that I
he cannot speak for their amendment |
the Democratic platform Of that |
State has not indorsed II. They nat |
Irally ask how IL was that as the next |
highest official in the national admins
ration he could come out with such a
oroadside Of Endorsement when Il was
not in the national platform.
At present the Democratic National
Committee Is on the blacklist along with
he Committee on Rules Of the Demo-
ratio House of Representatives. and the
Union makes a logical II
argument in favor Of putting the respon-
IibIlity on the party itself. In outlining
Is plan Of work at the conference held
II Marble House, Newport, Miss Paul
aid: II
I'VE are all agreed that IT Is the Demo-
ratio party which is responsible for the 4
docking Of the national suffrage amend
nent Again and again that party has
o gone on record through the action
4 its leaders, its caucus and its COM 1
nittee that an impregnable case has been I
'uilt up against IT. Now that We
ave 100000 women voters We need no
onger make our appeal simply to men
THE time has come when, We believe, II
We can really go into national politics
nd use these votes to win the vote
or the rest of US. ." II would be
not to use this power to
effect a sufficient number Of votes from
he party in control OF the government
o prove that the suffrage question Is a