The Washington times., 1915-01-12

of experience there is no division Of
opinion on this question among us.
our people would as soon think Of sur
rendering their charter Of Statehood
as of depriving their women of the
ballot.
1t was a gala day for the suffrage
hosts. and likewise for the "antis." The
former, although privately expecting
the defeat of their resolution. had. after
years of effort. finally forced consider
alton of "thc cause" and its merits on
the floor of the Congress. The anti
ragists were jubiiant because of the
foregone conclusion that the Mondeil
two-thirds ma jority.
Both Sides In Earnest.
Both sides were as deeply in earnest
and as expectant. however. as though
the vote were destined to be close. Fair
women visitors "buttonholed" members
OF the House as they reached the Capt.
tol and the uninitiated observer could
not tell that the result was practically
known in advance.
The suffra2ists and their women op-
ponents arrived early, despite the rain.
One large section OF the galleries lad
been reserved for the pros and an
other for the "antis." The opposing
feminine armies exchanged the cour-
tesies Of the day as they met in the
corridors. and glanced across the gall
lery seats, but they did not comminsle.
I'VE thought it best not to put both
sides in the same section Of the gall
lery.' said a smiling House leader. as
he winked an eye. We don't want
any arguments going on in the galleries
while We are debating below
H.
poses suffrage as a national issue, and
contends that each state should solve
the problem of who shall vote. predic-
ted, az the House convened. that the
Mondcll resolution would be badv beat
en-.
Underwood Is Opposed.
II am for the rule. as the women are
entitled to vote on the question:
said Mr.. Underwood. but the resolu-
ton itself hasn't a chance
Chairman Henry. Of the Rules Com
mittee. who brought in the rule. made
a similar observation. Mr.. Henry said
the vote on the resolution proper would
come about s o'clock tonight.
The debate was as animated and
spirited as that which attended the
consideration recently of the Hobson
prohibition resolution. with the read
ing of the rule. both sides jumped into
the verbal fray. and the feminine visi-
tors in the galleries broke out into oc-
casional applause. although applause
Is not allowed under the House rules.
When the prohibition issue met de-
feat in the House. the galleries were
crowded with both male and female
white ribboners." Women largely pre-
dominated in the gallery audiences to-
day and the ages OF the spectators
ranged from the siXteen-year-old girl.
Just enlisted in the suffrage ranks. to
the veterans in the service of the
cause
In the section of the galleries as
signed to the sufrragists were many
prominent women who came to Wash
ington expressly to hear the debate
including Mrs. Charles W. Cole and
Mrs. Elsie Cole Phillips of New York
Mrs. Henry Willard, Mrs. O. Fl. p Bel
mont. Mrs. Harriet Stanton Blatch
Dr.. Cora Smith King. Mrs. Pethick
Lawrence. of London, and Miss Anne
were represented in the big gallery
throng.
Occupying prominent places in the sec.
tions reserved for the anti-suffra gists
were Mrs Arthur NJ. Dodge president
OF the National Association Opposed to
Woman Suffrage: Mrs. A. j. George
representing the Massachusetts, "antis:
Mrs. Daniel A. Markham. of the Con.
necticut branch OF the anti-association
Pennsylvania brancn: Mrs. John r
Heron and Miss Eliza Armstrong. OF
Pittsburgh. and Mrs. F. G. Schwartz
of the Ohio branch.