The Washington herald., 1914-12-06
By IDA Hustled HARPER.

There seems to be no good reason why
women should harry the President any
further at present in regard to the suf-
frage. In spoken and written words
within the last few weeks he has made
his position perfectly clear and no more
demands on his valuable time should be
made for awhile at least.
In a recent letter he said:
Il am deeply impressed with the
movement for woman suffrage, but I
have thought that 1t can be best worked,
and most soIidly and conclusively. IL de-
veloped from State to State under the
Constitution as II now stands, rather
than by sweeping changes in the funda-
mental law Of the nation"
This statement shows q very great ad-
vance in the Presidents views since he
entered the White House less than two
years ago. At that time he was positive
ly opposed to the enfranchisement of
women.
A southerner born and bred; his ma
ture years spent in a very conservative
university; no pressure in favor at home,
and at that time little affirmative senti-
ment in his State OF New Jersey. this
attitude was perfectly natural. II Is
doubtful IL he ever had heard the sub
ject thoroughly discussed or had regard
ed 1t as other than purely academic.
That in a little more than a year and a
half he could write as above indicates as
much progress as could be hoped for and
he should be left to study and observe
in his own way. Holding, as he does.
that it should be referred to the jurisdic-
ton of the States. what do the suffragists
expect him to say in his message to a
Congress, the majority Of whom have a
similar opinion?
Persistency Bad Judgment.
In their persistency they do not show
good Judgment. Mr.. Wilson in his short
term OF office has received more suffrage
delegations than all the other twenty
seven Presidents combined. In fact, he
is the only one who ever received any
with the exception of Roosevelt who
sent them away without a ray Of COM
fort or hope, and he has earned the right
to be left in peace.
President Wilson is not likely to be in
fluenced by the letter of Mrs. Dodge,
president of the National Anti-Suffrage
Association. attempting to prove that the
vast majority OF women are opposed to
being enfranchised. She bases this state
ment on the assertion that there are
q. .555,7A mature women in America. and
only 10000 less than / per cent, belong
to the National Suffrage Association. -
She probably means the United States in
stead Of America. The last census enum-
Grated a female population OF A.64O. 900.
and II is hardly possible that consider
ably over half OF them are mature
women
The males were almost 1000 0OO in eX-
cess, and yet they cast only about 1880 =
90 votes at the last general election. 1t
would be just as logical to say that only
the few thousand men who belonged to
the tarin reform leagues were in favor
OF revising the tariff as to include in
the number of women who want the suf-
frage only those who pay dues to the
national association. There are. for in
stance, at least 10000 enrolled in the
Woman Suffrage party of New York
State the great majority OF whom prob
ably are not members of the national as
ISOLATION.
Mrs. Dodge COntradictedd.
1t would be impossible to obtain the
individual opinions of all women, and
these can be approXimated only by the
official votes Of delegates sent to conven-
tions by the innumerable organized bod
les of women throughout the country
1t is supremely ridiculous for the anti
suffrage leaders TO claim. as they do.
that they represent 90 per cent OF all
women. in view of the overwhelming
vote in favor OF the suffrage at the BIZ