The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-04
SUFFRAGE THREAT TO
HOUSE DEMOCRATS
Four Million Women Votes to
BE Cast Against Party IL
IL Sidcsteps.
W ARNlNG BY NEW YORKER
DR.. Mary Walker Opposes
Votes" Amendment as Be
ing Unnecessary
WARNING BY NEW YORKER

WARRINGTON. March s-Both sides Of
the woman suffrage controversy were
argued Mt length before the House Ju-
dietary Committee to-day. The subject OF
immediate concern was the pending reso-
luton to amend the Constitution 30 as to
grant suffrage to women universally in
the United states
The sunragists opened the proceeding.
A warning to the Democrats was uttered
early II came from Mrs Crystal East
man Benedict OF New York a young
woman arrayed IN spring millinery and
an exqus,tely tailored gown. She threw
down the following gauntlet to the Demo
Gratis.
Grant us women suffrage throughout
the United States or 5000 women who
vote In States where suffrage Is already .
fact will vote against YOU. You Democrats
are In power for the first time In eighteen
years. yet you have the power TO grant
this thing.
For the first time we women have the
opportunity To present this question as a
national issue. II this Congress does not
take action IL viii b. because the party
deliberately sidesteps this vital issue,
when YOU turn TO the 1000. 600 women
who viii vote al the next Presidential cleo
tion--and there may be NOR" by that
time--and tell them what "a splendid adj
ministration you have given US, what a
fine tarin bill YOU passed, what u superior
currency and antitrust programme you
have carried tutrution the women VIII
reply 10 YOU that you have deliberately
RETAINED from dealing with justice and
fairness toward the women OF such States
a. have not granted equal suffrage"
Other suffrage speakers were Mrs. An
tionette Funk and DR.. Cora Smith King
H. "A "a
be no longer the graveyard committee
OF the House" where suffrage bills and
resolutions are buried.
A big delegation of women OF the vari-
Gus States appeared before the committee
to reply To the arguments advanced by
the supporters OF the proposed women
suffrage amendment
Mrs. Arthur NJ. Dodge OF New York.
president of the ants. said.
~ arrived here in time this morning TO
hear some OF the threats OF political venge-
ante hurled Mt this committee by the
suffragists. I think the committee can
we'll afford to disregard these threats.
They cannot be taken as serious or grave,
because the suffraglsts have failed TO
agree among themselves on 20 many
points that they could not agree on how
TO carry out threat. even II they had
the power"
Among the speakers introduced by Mrs.
Dodge were Mrs. Henry White of the
executiv. committee, Miss Alice HIN Chit
tcnd.n, president OF the New York State
Association: Miss Marjorie Dorman, SEQ
rotary OF the Women Wage Farmers Anti
Suffrage League of New York. and John
Matthews OF Newark y. j.. and John n.
Dos Passos of New York
DIR. Mary Walker. att,red in dress
suit and wearing her civil war medal on
the lapel OF her coat, attended the hearing
She said that she was opposed TO the
amendment. The committee granted her
five minutes. which she occupied by telling
them that there was no need for this
amendment. as the right OF women 10 vote
was not open TO argument anyhow. The
right never had been legally taken away
from women. according 70 Or. Walker.
AMI she based her contention Oh the fact
that when New Jersey Joined the Union
by adopting the Constitution women voted
In that state and this right was never
legally taken from them.