The Washington herald., 1914-03-12
OPPOSES EARLY
SUFFRAGE VOTE
Mrs. Harper Would Put Of
Action by Senate on
Resolution.
NO REASON FOR HASTE
Mrs. Mccormick. However. Believes
Much Support May Be Lost by
Postponement.

The fact that "our worst enemies are
anxious for a vote at once ON the suf-
frage resolution. pending in the Senate,
Is sufficient reason, Mrs. Ida Hustled
Harper said yesterday, for postponing
the vote.
Il have made every possible effort to
learn why II was considered advisable to
take a vote In the Senate now. but
have not yet heard one good reason for
doing So" Mrs. Harper continued. THE
excuse that II we do not have II now.
we cannot get the time later In the ses-
sion has no weight. because the most
important bill now before Congress will
be out of the way by the middle of May
We undoubtedly will have created a great
deal OF favorable public sentiment be-
tween now and then, especially by the
demonstrations to take place that month.
Even should we not be able to get
two-thirds vote. IL Is vitally necessary
to have as large a vote as possible, be-
cause OF its effect on the public. There
fore, 1t seems to me that every real friend
of this national amendment would wish
to have the vote postponed until the
middle of May"
Mrs. Benedict Favors Delay.
Mrs Crystal Eastman Benedict said:
at seems to me perfectly obvious why
we want the vote on the suffrage amend
ment postponed. This suffrage movement
is an educational one. Every month
many thousands throughout the country
are won over to its importance. The
growth OF favorable opinion in the past
year. both in and out OF Congress. has
been phenomenal. II We could get good
majority from the Senate today II stands
to reason We can get a better vote two
months from today. especially after our
national demonstrations on May .
IF We cannot get a good majority to-
day, all the more reason for postponing.
Give us two months more for work, for
educating the public and demonstrating
to the nations representatives the
strength OF the demand. and we can get
a favorable vote. I do not see why, in a
great educational movement like this, Il
We want all the time We can get within
the limits of the session
THE situation in relation to the resolu-
ton for woman suffrage pending In the
United States Senate" said Mrs. MedilI
Mccormick. chairman OF the Congress
sional committee Of the National Amcri-
can Woman Suffrage Association. lis
just this: The resolution pending is one
which has been advocated by the ma
;ional association and introduced in cv-
cry Congress for nearly half a century
FOR inc nrst tlmc IN forty years the
resolution has been favorably reported to
the Senate. and after a parliamentary
battle, in which the opponents used every
possible effort to prevent its considera-
tion. II was brought before the Senate
and made the unfinished business.
May Lose Votes.
The Senators favoring suffrage,
with one or two exceptions. believe IL
is necessary to have vote on the res
Olution as soon as possible. and that
the resolution is as strong now as Il
ever will he in this Congress. More
than that. the supporters of the reso-
luton believe that a postponement. no
matter for what purpose. will lose
votes and perhaps prevent the resolu-
ton from again being considered at
this session.
business of pressing Importance.
such the trust bills. appropriation
bills. repeal Of the Panama canal tolls.
and many other matters. are likely to
be brought before the Senate early in !
April. and will occupy its time to the
exclusion of everything else until hnal
Realizing this legisla-
tive situation the Congressional COM
mittee has co-Operated with the suf-
frage Senators in order to bring about
a vote at the close of the discussion"