The Washington herald., 1914-01-29
Il
REBELS ATTACK
|. SUFFRAGE union
Accounting Of Funds Asked
by Seceders IN Warm
Resolution.
APPEAL TO PRESIDENT
Mrs. R. M. Maclennan Asserts Its
Policy Is to Oppose Democratic
Party If Amendment Fails.
APPEAL TO PRESIDENT


Party If Amendment Fails.
An accounting of the funds spent b.
the Congressional Union for Woman suf
fraxe was asked last night at meetini
of about forty rebels" at 1906 @ stree
northwest
The meeting was called by those VIII
are not in favor OF the methods beinl
used by the present rulers Of Congress
sional Union. Mrs. Russell Malcolm Mac
lehman presided.
The following letter was sent to- Presi
dent Wilson by Mrs. Medill Mccormick
in regard to the manner in which tn
Congressional Union Is being run:
my Dear Mr.. President:
.In view of the fact that the Con-
gressional Union for Woman Suffrage
has publicly announced policy con-
templating an attack upon the Demo-
cratic party as q whole. and fearing
lest this small group Of suffragfsts
acting under un-American and mill
tant methods prejudice our cause. will
you permit us to make clear that our
organization. the National American
Woman Suffrage Association. being
strictly nonpartisan emphatically con-
QennS rnlS pOuCy.
I'VE recognize that there are suf-
fragists in all parties. that all parties
have contributed to suffrage in ten
States, and that all parties will in
the near future write the principles
OF suffrage into nationwide law. We
oppose no party as a whole because
a portion of its members cannot be
counted among our legislative sup
Porters.''
Mrs. Maclennaa Presides.
The chief topic discussed by the rebels
was the fact that no suffragist can hold
a position under, the Civil Service Com
mission and at> >the same time voice her
sentiments on suffrage.
Ten months ago. according TO Mrs. Mac
lehman. some one struck a discordant
note in the ranks of the Congressional
Union. That note has been reverberating
around Washington ever since. and has.
ity in the women who attended last
nights meeting.
Each speaker must state whether she
is a member of the Congressional Union
and whether satisfied or dissatisfied with
the conduct Of the union" said Mrs. Mac
lehman, land. for obvious reasons. none
but the latter will be recognized"
There were several of the latter"
Protest Against Union.
The meeting was called to protest
against the way the affairs of the Con-
gressional Union have been run. In ex-
planning why the meeting was held Mrs.
exhibited letters that she had
sent to and had received from the Civil
Service Commission.
The following letter was sent by
Mrs Maclennan TO the Civil Service
II am desirous of securing the opin-
on of your commission on the follow
ng question which is of vital import
ance to hundreds of government clerks:
rs membership in any government
whose avowed policy is to defeat the
party in power IL certain legislation is
rot granted. considered by the United
states Civil Service Commission as po-
itical activity and If such. are mem
,ers Of such organizations liable to re-
noval from office on account Of such
political activity"
The following reply was received by
Mrs. Maclennan:
Persons who. by the provisions of
.hese rules are in the competitive clas-
'ified service. while retaining the right
o vote as they please and to express
their opinions on all political
shall take no active part in
political management or in political
Activity in politics includes any activ-
ty pertaining to or connected with a
arty or parties controlling or seeking
o control government in the nation, or
G a State. county, or municipality. Any
ne of two or more bodies Of people con-
ending for antagonistic or rival govern
rental policies or measures Is a political
arty. The fact that a campaign may
OF mean afiiliation with any OF the great
ational political parties or that the
arty may be d reform party is not ma
erial. . 1t is well known that re-
orm or so-called noHpartisan campaigns
re frequently more bitterly contested
han campaigns conducted on strictly
artisan lines, and however meritorious
lay be the reform sought to be attained.
the question~is a political one a COM
etitive employe may not take an active
art in its discussion or solution!
wouId Oppose Demoerats.
THE policy OF the union is to oppose
he entire Democratic party should the
resent Congress tail to pass the fran
hise amendment" said Mrs. Maclen-
ian. This policy, as we all know, is in
irect opposition to the nonpartisan policy
4 the parent body, the American Ma
ional Woman Suffrage Association. which
or more than haif a century has strictly
dhered to a nonpartisan policy"
1t Is reported that the Democratic party
5 not worried over the fact that cer-
ain members of the equal suffrage or
,aniZation will do all in their pover IN