The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
PARTY LEADERS
IN N. Y.PREDICT
SUFFS' DEFEAT
Only One District Chief in
City Sees a Chance
for Victory.
no SIDES TAKEN BY
EITHER ORGANIZATION

and tumble work OF politics in New
York county are against woman suffrage
and believe 1t will be badly beaten in
Noyembers referendum vote. That 10
the outstanding fact that appears in in
terviews which THE Sun has obtained
from Republican and Democratic dis
tr1ct leaders.
Heretofore most OF the news OF the
campaign of the suffragists. now ap-
preaching its climax, for the right to
vote in the "enemy's country OF New
York has dealt almost exclusively with
the activities Of the women themselves.
Their hopes and fears and adroit meth
DDS Of campaigning have been fully set
forth from day to day and will continue
10 be-
But what about the men who will
walk up to the ballot box on Novem-
Der and decide whether the women
shall be enfranchised? What of the men
who control the party organizations?
What impression has been made upon
them by all the oratory and personal
been hammering away month after
month? How will the politicians vote?
How do they think their Constituents"
will vote? 1t seemed to THE Sun that 1t
was time to find out what the men were
doing about suffrage. Hence the col
lection OF opinions from district leaders
which are presented herewith.
Record in Figures.
Here is the record in figures: or
the Democratic district leaders or their
representatives who could be reached
and who expressed an opinion Ca num-
ber are out of the city) only two are for
woman suffrage. and eight are against
it Twelve think 1t will be defeated.
none thinks the amendment will be car
red. The number OF Republican lead
ers for suffrage Is four, the number
against is eight. The number OF Repub-
lcan leaders who think 1t will win is
one; defeated, thirteen. Others who
would not be quoted are known to bs
against suffrage.
Every one of these men said the pro-
suffragists and the ants are being
treated impartially and that none of the
regular Democratic and Republican or
ganIzations has committed itself in
either direction. This is true of both
Tammany Hall and OF the Republican
county committee, as well as of tn.
district machines.
The phrase Woman suffrage is not
party matter the voters should be left
alone" was used by many of the poll
tlcians with whom Sun reporter
talked. Some OF them were even un-
willing to give their personal views.
few said that they had no opinion on
the subject and one went so far as to say
that he hadn't heard anything about il.
Mrs. Blatch or Mrs. Gait would have
had to clap their hands to their ears
Il they had heard as many times as the
!nteryiewers did the words so hateful to
the suffra gists. "Woman's place is the
home But this trte saying sums up
most OF the reasons advanced by the
hostile leaders for opposing the woman's
ballot. And most Of the leaders who are
personally pro-suifrage believe that 1t
hdsnt a chance of carrying their dis
t!ctS they say the campaicners haven't
made much headway against "Woman's
place is the home" prejudice.
&. =. Murphy silent.
Charles +. Murphy is believed to be
an anti, but the most heroic OF attempts
have failed TO elicit any definite express
s.on from him. The Democratic county
Chairman, William Hartman Black, IA
NoS suffrage. but declined to talk for
publication. Thomas +. Foley. Tammany
leader Of the Second Assembly district,
"Hose relations with Mr.. Murphy are so
{ ose that his opinion is often construed
a. thar Of Tammany Halls. was not slow
N saying that he was fiatly against
eqHal suffrage. lie said he had given the
matter much thought and had found In
talks with his followers that almost to a
man inCy We're ants.
Samuel $. Koenig, Republican county
c1a'rman, predicts that the amendment
Will b" beaten to in this county and
throughout the State. He says the suf-
I ag Sts will do well Il they get AZ many
~ $4,000 votes In New York county.
lie declined to tell where he stands per-
s'nalF, but 1t is understood. that. like
Mr., Murphy, he holds that women should
- vote
Nj Foley's district. on the lower
E'si Side, with Clinton street as its
h'''7ern boundary, Is Overwhelmingly
Democratic and he has an intimate
knowledge OF what his flock are think
iR In the upper part OF his district
tl'r" are some settlement workers, but
re thcless Mr. Foley said he Thought
me tmendment would get not more than
f"''s votes.
'I have talked To many OF our old
.s.1ncd mothers in my district" said
VI - ley, and every one has been
'l'I-t the plan TO give the vote to
women They all agree with me that
'..' 's is no. "A business in which women
s."ud take part.
~ mink II time that our old fashioned
N''1ors and wives should talk u their
N''H"" sisters ana point out 10 them
ITO mistake they make in wanting to
N".r Would II 10 X nice to see women
'"I "p outside Il polling place waiting
, rAin"o to east their ballot? | say no.
j IS no place for them, When they do
u 'uoy unstx themselves In my judg-
~ The stronger women should talk
- 'n"'r weaker sisters and save them
rom themselves.
llis idea of equal rights for women
m1F ne all right for some - them but
- ate | have seen some of our women
places that In my Judgment they
S.p..d stay away from ! have seen
t'm 't F.bbets Field In rngslde seats
"H' 1u5ing two lighters In the ring. They
t"3.d not attend such affairs and !
M. ~r"N 20 see that they d. not bet
u Inw their place
IAas. tA "A. L..