Evening journal., 1914-01-30
SEN. DUPONT
RECEIVES The
SUFFRACISTS
Tells Them He is Opposed TO
Unrestricted Suffrage Being
Extended TO Women
RECALLS HIS ATTITUDE
OF FOUR YEARS AGO
snecIal % THE EVENING IouRNAL.

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., Jan. &c.
United States Senator Henry A. du-
Pont Of Delaware at noon today re-
ceiyed a delegation Of woman advo-
eating equal suffrage from his own
State. headed by Miss Mabel Vernon
OF Wilmington, who is chairman Of
the Equal Suffrage Congressional
Union for Delaware.
The women were disappointed in
not recruiting Senator DUPONT in the
equal suffrage cause but they were
impressed with his frankness i'm set
ting forth his position as being op-
posed 10 extending unrestricted suf-
trage to women.
senator DUPONT took occasion. at
tho outset of his statement 20 the wo-
mon from his native State to recall
the cictude he had expressed in cor
IcsDCndence with the Delaware Edual
Suffrage Association Committee in
1910. N which he set forth that State
Legislatures might initiate considera-
ton Of the suffrage question. and in
which he raised a point as to
whether the suiragists advocated ex-
tension of the right of suffrage TO
@efy woman in Delaware who had
afta ned hc Necessary age. and
whether the c9mmitte favored the i'm
position of educational or property
qualifications to women voters.
ms point raised four wears ago by
Senator DUPONT is the same that was
raised recently by Senator Willard
salisbury, Of Delaware. when dele
cation of suifragists called on him to
learn his attitude
Senator DUPONT today made II plain
that he could not vote for an amend
ment TO the Federal Constitution to
grant unrestricted suffrage to women.
because there is nothing to prevent
woman suffrage being granted in Del
aware if the majority of people of
tho state desire il: and because he
does not think it wise to Increase the
national electorate by two million
illiterate women. which he said
would be one OF the consequences OF
the proposed constitutional amend
ment
Miss Vefnon was accompanied by
Mrs. William b Butler OF Whining
ton After they explained their posi-
ton senator DUPONT made his state
ment
Miss Vernon made statement as 10
her opinion tia, women had become
more iterate than men. at the con-
ciusion OF which Senator DUPONT SAID
with SMILE Far be it from me to
attempt to deprive a lady of her in
alienable privilege Of having the last
word'
The delegation thanked Senator
DUPONT for the courteous way in
which he had received them and had a
friendly chat about conditions in
Delaware In his remarks to the dee
gation, Senator DUPONT said
II understand that your delatation
comes here for the purpose Of request
inc me o. vote for the proposed amend
mcnt TO the constitution granting suf-
iragc TO women. This is simply bring
ing mp, mider new fofm, a question
already submitted to me hy the Della
ware Equal Suffrage Association in De-
ccmher. 1909. and ] think it would be
Wen to read the letter received at that
time from Mrs. Martha $ Cranston
pre~idcri OF snid association. together
with my reply. and the answer of the
4 secretary of the association TO the same
ON the Goth of December. 1909. Mrs
Cranston wrote me as follows:
As chairman OF the National
Woman Suffrage Petition Commit
Continued on Page l5l