The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-03
NO AID FOR
SUFFRAGE
President So Informs His
Working Women
Visitors
RECEIVES THE
WHOLE DELEGATION
300 March On in Washing
ton Parade, But Fail to
Shake President

Washington, Feb. 3.-Women toilers in
mills and factories pleaded yesterday
with the president for assistance to the
cause of women suffrage.
The president regretfully told them he
could not urge anything on Congress
which had not received the organic con-
sderation of the Democratic party.
Yesterday the women's demonstration
and tale of hardships affected the presi-
dent deeply. He told his friends he
wished he could help but he saw no way
to do so.
Twenty-Five Of the women were re-
ceived by the president, and five, in
short speeches, presented their argument.
The president reiterated that as leader
of the Democratic party he was limited
only to recommending those things on
which the party had made up its mind
I'VE don't want you to break with
your party, but we would like you to
influence them" said Mrs. Glendower
Evans OF Boston, after the president
had finished speaking.
1T isn't question of breaking with
the party returned the president; "it is
a question of speaking for it,
swell, why not speak to ity" reioined
Mrs. Evans, as the women laughed.
That's what we want. You have such
tremendous power and can work miracles
with it."
The president did not continue the
discussion, but expressed a wish to meet
the women who were waiting outside.
But they told us we couldn't all come
in" remarked Mrs. Evans.
at must be a misunderstanding. said
the president, and he sent word out that
he would like to have the delegation
come in.
They came in, single, file, passing ii
one door and out another. Some OF the
women declined to shake hands with
the president, marching indifferently by,
refusing to take his proffered hand. At
their exit, DIR. Mary Walker. in male at
tire, argued with the women that suf-
frage was a state issue. She was not
permitted to enter with the delegation.
The pleas of the women were marked
with a touch of pathos and emotion as
they described the hardships OF women
workers.
Shaking and trembling" said Miss
Margaret Hinchey OF the laundry work
ers of New York, ''we come 10 plead
with you. You are so square and on
the level and so much q real Democrat
that | appeal to you TO wipe out the
injustice that exists. We could help
every Democrat if we had the VOTE
Miss Mary Schneidermann of New
York, representing the cap-makers. spoke
OF the hardships of women in mills and
mines.
"We suffer side by side with the men,
she said, "and in constant fear of los.
ing our jobs" As she told OF many
cases of suffering the presidents face
showed his sympathetic interest.
1T is not u democracy when only half
have something to say" contended Miss
Melinda Scott of New Jersey, represent
ing the cap-makers' union. "We will be
glad If you will mention our cause in
your next message"
The last speaker was Miss Rose Wins
low of Pennsylvania, representing the
textile workers.
"You are entirely too fair and intel
ligent,7 she said, mot to know what is
with the working women, it is either
the sanitarium for tuberculosis or the
streets. don't have to make speeches
to you, as we are too close" The presi.
dent smiled as Miss Winslow, who stood,
close to him, dropped her voice to
tone and continue her
talk.
Mrs. Evans referred, in closing, to the
fact that she had visited Mr.. Wilson
at Sea Grit, when he was candidate
for president and claimed to have gotten
some encouragement for the cause OF
suffrage.
"Why, we worked our fingeSshails off
to get you elected" said Mrs Evans. Il
thought from what you said that you
were in favor of our cause. You were
cunning for votes then"
Il was much freer to express my opin-
ion then than / am now" smiled the
president.
"There are 300 working women outside
awaiting your answer" said Mrs. Evans.
81 want to say just this" returned
the president, II need not tell You that
what you have said makes a profound
upon me, but ] have already
explained my limitations. Until a party,
as such, has taken position on ques-
ton / am not at liberty to speak for it. |
! am limited in expressing my opinions,
no matter what my individual thoughts
may be. / have no doubt that your visit
will make profound impression"
The president himself FASTENED the
ceremony, thereby ending
the discussion, though Mrs. Evans re-
marked that only 10 minutes of the al |
lotted 10 had been used up. The presi- |
dent began shaking hands, however, cut |
ting of further discussion. As many of !
the women fled by carrying banners, |
and with eolored bands decorated their /
furs, they named their home states.