The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-08
First Open Ultimatum

F1rSt ODen Clt1matum
 Grant us woman suffrage throughout the eountry-or 100000 women who vote in states where suffrage is already a fact will vote against you." she said. This charming young person-issuing challenge to a great political organiza- tion, and q challenge which no one can dispte. is serious and far-reaching-wa Mrs. Crystal Eastman Benedict of New York. It was the first open and official ultimatum to a party organization issued by the hand that rocks the cradle. and which now desires to also cast a ballot. The threat was made in gentle and polite and even apologetic tones and terms. but 1t was there, bristling with possibilities and as plain as day that the great or
 ganization of women which is now fight ing for nationwide suffrage+s will hold the administration responsible if nothing
 Is done for them by the party in power.
 The south does not believe in woman
 suffrage, albeit. a few of the women of
 the southland insist that there is a gen
 eral sentiment in the southern states fn support of the movement. Members Of
 Congress from the southern states ia
 hoth the Senate and the House. consti- tute now the backbone of the opposition
 in Congress to the proposition to Il con stitutional amendment. The hope of the
 northern members, and western and east
 ern members, many of them as much opposed, personally, to the women vot-
 ing as are the members from the south
 ern states. lies in the fact that southern members will fight the proposition. The determined opposition by southern mem-
 bers will delay for a long time the pas sage of such an amendment but in the
 meanwhile, state after state in the west middle west the east and north, will go oyer to the women, and right or wrong, wise or unwise, the women of the United States are going to vote, sooner or later
 No one is more opposed to the move ment than the writer of this story, but this Is news story, written without respect to personal opinion, or wishes. Will Be Sidestepping Issue
 You democrats are in power, said Mrs. Benedict. For the first time in IS years you have the power to grant this thing. For the first time we women have the opportunity to present the mat ter as a national one. If this Congress doesn't take action, it will be because the party deliberately sidesteps the issue. When you turn to the 100000 women who vote at the next election and tell them what fine administration you have | given us, what a fine tariff law and what a fine currency and antitrust pro- | gramme you have put through, the women 1 will reply that you have deliberately re- | trained from dealing with justice and | fairness to the women of those states l where suffrage is not granted" Representative Chandler, bull mooser of New York, promptly made a bid for 1 the women vote when he asked Mrs. Benedict:
 Since the grand old party failed and | the democrats seem to be failing to give i the women what they want in the way of suffrage, why should not the 100000 women turn to the progressive party, the ] only political organization with a woman
 suffrage plank it it's platform?" he said. Mrs. Benedict merely laughed, and said
 that she was not giving away any of l their plans in advance.
 | It is as certain as can De, however, that the leaders of the big parties of the coun- i sry have a new and formidable problem with which they must deal, and they must deal with it soon. Just how re- ! mains to be seen.