The Washington herald., 1915-12-15
DON'T RUSH VOTE,
SAYS SUFFRAGISI
Mrs. Gait Urges National As.
ISOLATION Not to Start Cam
paign Too Early.
"PEACE" HEARING LIKELY
Question of Dividing Field Of Activity
With Congressional Union May
Be Discussed Today.

Go slow. Don't precipitate woman
suffrage campaigns" That was the un-
usual advice that Carrie Chapman Gait.
floor leader of the National American
Woman Suffrage Association. gave the
convention yesterday on its opening day.
Its meetings are being held in the New
Willard.
Whether the hearing. which Will be
given the Congressional Union dove of
peace" party probably late today, will
effect sweeping results or will end in
muzzling the Congressional Union voices.
this much is conceded by all observers:
Revolutionary changes in political meth
DDS will result from this Washington con-
vention
Mrs Cats advice was given behind
closed doors She told the delegates that
for the first time since the suffrage -strug-
gle started the men politicians have been
calling the bluff of the sufirasists and the
suffrarists have not been ready Up I'M
til fifteen months ago To get the question
submitted to the people was regarded as
great victory. Suddenly the policy has
to be reversed. Submission of suffrage
where unprepared women now regard as
calamity
State suffrage organizations have been
built up to influence the legislatures and
The politicians Mrs. Gait told her audi
ence. They have not been organized to
win the people. Entirely new organizs-
ton is necessary. The methods must be
all changed
Don't ask for a popular vote upon suf-
fra-e unless YOU are ready she warned
81. Louis Wants Convention.
The session was opened al 10 o'clock
by DIR. Anna Howard Shaw. She greeted
the old and the new members. remark
ing with feeling that she could now
Aaf- Lnr
that she saw in the first suffrage con-
vcntion she attended in 1855
Committees of all sorts were heard. An
invitation from st. Louis bidding for the
next convention was read.
Little has been said in the meetings
about the Congressional Union overtures
relative to the Nationals withdrawal
from the District of Columbia. leaving
the Susan B. Anthony amendment TO the
Congressional Union exclusively. But
the question will receive a hearing on the
floor
Mrs. Winston Churchill apparently has
rot withdrawn from her position read
ar Of the younger organizations dema nds.
Whether the Congressional Union. how
ever. will consent To abandonment of its
anti-paTty policy" recently directed
directed against Democratic Congress
men. is rot known. But the policy was
reasserted with new emphasis before the
Republican National Committee yes
terday.
In the afternoon the convention ad-
i"urned to the White House. where the
President received about 800 delegates
We represent a great non-partisan or
Ganization. DR.. Shaw told the president
which believe in working in and
through all political parties but we
think tn" day has come when the Demo-
cratic Marty should declare for cause
~ l. of
ra"y.' She thanked him for his vote
for suffrage in New Jersey ard for his
statement that he believed suffrage
would improve conditions
Campaign Work Discussed.
TIL" President assured them that he
h''d the matter OF suffrage plank under
consideration. Among tie prominent
women present at the Presidents re-
c"Dtion We're Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait
Mrs. RAYMOND Brown and Mrs. Harriet
r. Iaidlaw. of New York City; Miss
Alice stone blackwell. Mrs. Gertrude H.
Leonard and Mrs. Wood Park. of Bos-
ton: Mrs. Medill Mccormick. Mrs. James
W. Morrison and Mrs. Harrison Monroe
Brown. OF Chicago
Carlpaicn work WAS the subject Of dis
CuSSion at every meeting of the National
American Woman Suffrage Association
yesterday. In the evening Mrs Frank
RocssinS, of Pennsylvania presided
bly, the most stirring address of
this meeting that of Mrs. Gait
The convention adJourns tomorrow
morning to the Senate Office Building
there to have hearing before the Senate
Committee Suffrage. 1t is hearing
exclusively for this one organization. DIR.
Shaw will preside. Mrs. Gait will make
the '.dc mand.' Miss Ruutz Reese of
Greenwich, Conn. will speak OH the
at NAL S,tFr 20
Association Alice Stone Blackwell of
Boston. on Some Suffrage History
Mrs. Medill Mccormick. of Chicago, on
"A Congressman NonvotinS Constitu-
ency." and Mrs Pattie Ruffner Jacobs.
of Alabama. the youngest State presi-
dent on Suffrage in the South.
The meeting last night agreed to as
scmble "a half hour early this afternoon
10 catch up with the program.