Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-09
sUFFRAC|STS ASK
PRESIDENT WILSON
FOR HIS SUPPORT
He Promises to Confer with
Congressional Leader about
Susan B. Anthony
Amendment.

Washington, Dec. 6-Woman suffragists
brought their demand for constitutional
amendment to Congress again to-day and
renewed their request for support to
President Wilson
While the President declined to take
up their cause in his annual address to-
morrow as they asked, he promised to
confer with Congress leaders over the
amendment and from that assurance the
women derived much announcement.
Heretofore the President consistently
has held that suffrage was State issue.
What effect, If any the recent defeat of
suffrage in the elections in the eastern
States may have had on his attitude was
not disclosed. but the women were conf
dent that their latest pilgrimage to the
White House had been the most fruitful
of all.
The Presidents interview was the eli.
max to to-day's demonstration which in
cluded the presentation OF petitions 10 con-
gressmen, speechmakng on the steps Of
the Capitol. the introduction of the Susan
b. Anthony suffrage amendment in the
House and a parade up Pennsylvania ave
nue..
The celebrated suffrage petition, IS 00O
feet long, and bearing $4,000 names OF
voters In the western suffrage States,
which was brought across the continent
In an automobile by Mrs. Sara Bard
Bleld OF Oregon and Miss Frances
Joiine of California was lost between
mere and Wilmington, Del. by the ex-
press company which had been entrust-
ed with the last few miles of it's long
journey. The women had with them an
other petition, whicls less pretentious,
was presented to Representative Mon
dell, republican of Wyoming. on the
steps of the capitol
When the House assembled Mr.. Mon
| dell introduced the Susan B. Anthony
amendment Representative Raker of
California. a democrat, introduced an
Identical measure, and Meyer London,
the new socialist congressman from New
YORK presented still another, DR.. Anna
Howard Shaw, president of the National
American Woman Suffrage association,
sat In the gallery with a party Of suff-
rage leaders ana watched the proceed
ings.
I'VE have introduced this self same
resolution in every Congress for the
last II years" said DR.. Shaw. land
while wa never have had any difficulty
In getting 1t introduced, We rarely have
enjoyed such degree of corporation
from all the political parties
satisfied that that was about all to
De expected OF Congress for one day,
the women marched on the White House
Up pennsylvania avenue with some
orass bands and a fife and drum corps,
they paraded between lines of police
VINO We're under the special Instructions
% see That they We're unmolested
AT the White House the 800 visiting
leaders marched into the east room and
the remainder OF the procession waited
OUTSIDE during the interview with the
president Miss Anne Martin of Nevada
ana Miss Joiffe We're spokesman. The
PRESIDENT told them he found 1t impos
sioie to take UP suffrage In his ad-
dress Tomorrow because the message
was finished and lie had devoted 1t to
another subject,
"Al can say with regard to what
you are urging at present" said he, els
this; / hope shall always have an
open mind and shall certainly take
the greatest pleasure in comforting In
the most serious way with my colleagues
at the other end of the city with regard
10 what is the right thing to do at this
'he concerning this great matter. l am
Always restrained as some OF YOU Will
remember by the consciousness that |
must speak FOR others as well as for
myself so long as I occupy my present
oifice, and therefore ] do not like to
speak for others until l consult others