The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
women EXPECT
LIVELY SESSION
Two Important Questions to
Be Discussed at National
Suffrage Convention.
CONVENES NEXT MONTH
Federal Amendment VS.. States Rights
and Measures Before Con-
gress Come Up.

Two huge bones Of contention promise
to make the forty-sfxth annual con-
vention OF the National American Wom-
an Suffrage Association, which will meet
in Nashville, Tenn. November PHI, one
of the liveIiest in the history of that or
ganization.
Bone No. l Is the question OF the Fed
eraI amendment vs.. States rights. The
movement for a Federal amendment re-
ceived a tremendous impetus when the
women Of Illinois won Presidential suf-
frage, and II only two or three OF the
seven Western States. where the cam
paign is now on, come into the suffrage
fold election day., there Is bound to be a
strong feeling that the national organi-
ration should give itself, heart and soul,
TO the effort to wiring a suffrage amend
ment from Congress. But that the con-
tingent which believes in working for
freedom State by State is more deter
mined than ever Is shown by the fact
that the Southern States Woman suf-
frage Conference, which stands for
States rights, will meet in Chattanooga,
November 10 and II. obviously to decide
on a plan Of procedure for the conven-
ton that opens next day.
Bone No. 2 is the two-pronged one OF
the suffrage measures now before Con-
gresH. Mhny HeInDGTs Vi AhN
orga aniEation maintain. with the national
board and Mrs. Medil Mccormick. chair
man of the Congressional committee, that
the Shafroth amendment to the Consti-
tuition, introduced by the Senator from
Colorado. is the only way to obtain
enough equal suffrage States TO make
possible a straight woman suffrage
amendment to the Constitution. which
has always been and still is the ultimate
- ~ aaaNrfaffnn The
Shafroth amendment provides for sub
mitting the question Of woman suffrage
to the voters in each State by initiative
petition. But the Congressional Union.
the offspring, though a very precocious
and rebellious one, of the national or
ganiLation. backs the Bristow-Mondsil
amendment only.
Bound up with this difference, and al
most overshadowing II, is the matter Of
the Congressional Unions policy in hold
ing the Democratic party responsible for
the ncnpassage of a suffrage amendment,
and its action in working to defeat Demo-
cratic candidates in the woman's suffrage
States, a policy which DR.. Anna Howard
Shaw. the national president, has con-
demned as suicidal, and which is abso-
Iutely contrary to the nonpartisan policy
long since adopted by the association.
Places to He Filled.
Another guarantee of excitement is the
fact that there are several places on the
national executive board TO be flled. It is
hoped that Miss Jane Adams, first vice
president, will reconsider her decision,
but Miss Caroline Ruutz-Rees, third vice
president; Mrs. Joseph X. Bowen, au-
ditor. and Mrs. James Lees Laidlaw, au-
ditor, are quite positive that other work
will keep them from even considering a
Mrs. Mary Ware bennett
secretary. resigned in Au-
gust and therefore will, Of course, not
stand for reelection.
n the friends Of the Congressional
Union should try to capture these places
bS assault things would be very interest
ing.
DIR. Anna Howard Shaw, that sturdy
veteran, is ready to carry on the burden
of the presidency. and no one would seri-
ously think of opposing her. There are
rumors that Mrs Grace Wilbur Trout, the
Illinois leader. and Mrs Maud Wood
Park, Of Massachusetts,, viii be candi-
dates, but similar rumors have never
failed In the past to be showed under by
votes for DR.. Shaw.
On Thursday, November II Gov. W. B.
Hooper, Mayor Hillary Howse, OF Nash
Vile; Mrs. Crozier-French, president of
the Tennessee State Suffrage AssocIa-
tion, and Mrs. Guilford Dudley. president
Of the Nashville Suffrage Association, will !
extend the freedom Of the State and city |
10 the women OF the convention. The !
evening meetings. which are open to the |
public, will be held In Ryman Hall, |
which seats 5000 people. DR.. Shaw makes |
her annual address Thursday evening, |
lnd the copvention VIII eslseratA the vic