The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-01

who called on PRESIDENT hS'H ~ A''
White House to-day to ask his support Tor
the suffrage amendment to the Federal
Constitution got A cool reception. the
President irritated by questions abruptly
terminated the interview and withdrew
from the room. leaving the 500 suffragists
alone.
Mrs. Rheta Childe Dorr and Mrs. Har-
vey W. Wiley. wife OF the pure food ex-
pert were the leaders whose questions
aroused Mr.. Wilson. They sought ny a
series OF sharp interrogatons to obtain
favorable admission from Mr.. Wilson. the
President submitted for few minutes
then he abruptly brought the proceed
ing to an end with the statement that
he did not deem II proper that he should
be subjected to a cross-examinatlon. After
this announcement the President, without
waiting even to shake hands with the
leaders. hurriedly backed away through
the folding doors OF the Eas, Room.
AS the doors Closed behind him the
suffragists seemed hewlldered for a mo-
ment: then there were CALCULATIONS OF re-
sentiment. Some of the spectators say a
hiss sounded from one quarter OF the
room. but others who were present did
not hear it. There was some perfunctory
handclappng.
Mrs Dorr made the opening speech. in
viting the President to commit himself in
favor of the Mondeli resolution making a
suffrage amendment to the Constitution.
She did not mince words in fact. Mrs.
Dorr hit out from the shoulder In a way
that frankly amazed statesmen on Capt.
toll Hill who have grown accustomed IN
going to the White House for their orders.
ION former occasions when we came to
you on this business YOU told u.s., SAID
Mrs Dorr. addressing the President. that
you could do nothing for us because you
were committed to a restricted programme
defined by the Democratic platform and
that YOU were determined never to Init
ate any important legislation until the
party had given YOU its instructions. Since
our last visit to the White House you
have receded from that position. You
have initiated and carried through Con-
gress an extremely important piece OF leg
isiation without waiting for party lnstruc-
ton. in fact YOU carried IL through in
the face of positive instructions to the
contrary written in the platform on which
you were elected. You did this because
you deemed IL the wise and the right thing
to do. and YOU had the courage TO act
according to your conscience and convic-
lions
says situation Has Changed.
"fn the matter of the legislation to
which ! have referred your Justification
rested on the fact that a certain situation
had changed and changed situation
called for changed policy.
Now, Mr.. President. 1t was extremely
kind of you TO receive this deputation
but We have reached a point where we
are not satisfied with kindness and tolera-
ton. We want action We therefore ask
you here. President Wilson, TO answer a
plain question. What are you going Ia
do--now-in this present session OF Con-
,gress--for woman suffrage Are you
going 10 use your powerful influence Ia
induce Congress 10 pass the Bristow-
Mondell resolution
The President replied:
Mrs Wiley and Ladies': No one
could fail to he impressed by this great
company OF thoughtful women and !
want to assure YOU that 1T Is to me most
impressive I have stated once before
tho position which az the leader OF a
party feel obliged to take. and | am
sure that you will not wish me to state
II again. Perhaps II would be more ser
vceable N ventured upon the coniiden,
conjecture that the Baltimore convention
did not embody this very important ques-
ton in the platform which IL adopted be
cause OF its conviction that the principles
OF the Constitution which allotted these
questions to the States were well consid
cred principles from which they did moi
wish 10 depart.
The Presidents Answer.
you have asked me to state my per
, sonaI position with regard to the pending
measure. II Is my conviction that this II
q matter for settlement by the States anC
not by the Federal Government and there
fore that being my personal conviction
and Il being obvious that there are