The Washington herald., 1914-10-25

the resolution at this critical time The
day before action was taken, when a
member of the board was asked why they
did not change the constitution and do
the thing legally. she replied: That
would delay it for another year; We
must do It now to impress the legisla-
ture." No doubt it will impress the legis-
lature, but not in the way il was intended.
ForhIds Suffrage.
Article II Of the Federation's constitu-
ton presents two distinct provisions for
bidding the Endorsement OF suffrage, in
the following words:
Its object shall be to unite the infiu-
ence and enterprise of Pennsylvania wom-
en-. to promote measures which all can
indorse whether these be legislative. civ
ic. educational. moral, or social. and to
compare methods of study and work. No
sectarian or political test is required,
and no club or society. designed for a
special purpose. shall bring its discuss
sions or its subjects into any annual
meeting OF the State Federation except
/ by unanimous consent
In the first place the avOwed purpose OF
the federation is to unite the influence
Of Pennsylvania women. Article II clear
ly classifies woman suffrage among the
political measures that cannot be pro-
NOTED because all cannot indorse it. Had
there been but a single voice, instead
Of many raised against an Endorsement of
suffrage. the resolution would have been
out of order inasmuch as "all' cannot be
applied to the federation without the as
sent Of all. The anti-suffragists could
have prevented the discussion of the suf-
frage resolution at any time had they
desired to do so. but anti-suffragists have
never feared discussion. never fiinched
when the full facts and figures about
votes for women" are given. They re-
member that the anti side won all
three debates in Yale. Harvard. and
Princeton. last spring. and repeated vic
tories at State colleges. even before Colo
rado gave her second example Of armed
lawlessness. and the various melting
pots" 'blacklists," and suffrage stunts
so disgusted Chicago women in FIVE
months that less than per cent of those
who registered in April voted in Septem-
ber.
A spirited debate in the convention on
the suffrage question was followed, how
ever. by a resolution pledging the dele
gates there present. as individuals. to
morally support woman suffrage: a reso-
luton that was Illegal
Legal Procedure Barred.
But the suffragists barred legal procs-
dure in order to secure, by any means
possible. the assent Of most of the dele
gates to votes for women" No speaker.
the president, or the chairman Of the
committee who presented the resolution
pretended It was legal. When the motion
to pass the resolution indorsing suffrage
as individuals was carried, an arising vote
was taken which the recording secre-
tary said was about two-thirds affirma-
tive vote. / believe II was not counted
1t was reported afterwards that great
many women who were not delegates
stood up. One delegate said that every
member of the present suffrage club in
her town had voted! II the opposition
had risen en- masse as the suffragists did,
the result would have been different. II a
vote of the house had been taken. II
would have shown an, overwhelming ma
jority against woman suffrage.
Even some Of the suffrage delegates
themselves rAflised to vote when they saw
the nEht-WRs against thaS constitutions