The Washington times., 1915-12-13

that the word scandal be eliminated.
Cries of mo. no." and Keep II in"
greeted her. and she quickly subsided.
Adjectives Called Too Mild.
1--WE already have omitted two ad-
| iectives suggested by men to be put
In this resolution" said Mrs. Arthur
NJ. Dodge. Of New York. president Of
the "antis." These men said the ad.
jectives we are using are too mild. but
we preferred to be on the conservative
| side
The reading of a letter by Mrs. Rob-
| ert Lansing. wife of the Secretary of
| state. written bv her father. John W.
Foster, former Secretary of state, in
which he said the Federal amendment
| for what he termed female suffrage"
| is unconstitutional. and the annual re-
port of Mrs. Dodge, were other features
| of this mornings session.
| In one portion of her address. Mrs.
Dodge charged suffragists with saying
| the "antis" were representatives OF
| "vice and LIQUOR interests" but said
that "antis' had even been sworn at
| and had their emblems torn from their
| clothing.
| Mrs. Lansing was greeted with pro-
| longed applause when she ascended the
platform to read the letter written by
her father touching upon the question
| of national amendment to the Consti-
| tuition giving women the vote.
Franchise "Rights."
"It is not necessary to enter upon an
examination of the arguments advanced
| in favor Of female suffrage to decide
| upon the merits of the proposed amend
| ment TO the Federal Constitution. 1t in
wolves a more important question. to
wit. a radical change In our constitu-
| tional form OF government"
He went on to explain that the cleo
| toral franchise is not one of the in
alienable rights" described in the Decla-
| ration of Independence. but Is granted
or withheld at the option Of the Gov
| crnment.
aside from the question Of a radical
| change in our constitutional SYSTEM"
| the letter continued, "a brief considera-
ton must decide i'm favor of reservins
the question of female suffrage to the
action' OF the State to determine for
itself. In the recent elections four Of
the important States Of our Union, after
n thorough canvass OF the question,
male suffrage, and yet it is now pro-
posed by means of a constitutional
amendment 10 compel those States to
accept what they have so emphatically
| rejected"
Not United. Says Speaker.
The question OF immigrant voters in
some States. and the colored vote in
others, was cited in the letter as rea-
sons for allowing the regulation of elec-
! toral rights to remain in the hands of
' States.
| The presence Of two suffrage organ
| izations in Washington at this time
| holding national conventions in success
| sive weeks was cited hv Mrs. Dodge as
evidence that the sufraSists are not
! united in their demands
we appear before the public rs an
undivided body opposed to woman suf-
| frag"," she said
| Plans for carving anti-sufrage prob
!
| outlined by Mrs. Dodge.
| The situation in the South now con-
fronts MS seriously for the first time.
not because of the large number Of sUf-
! iragiSts hat because OF the activities of
tn" few" she asserted.
Mrs. Dodge explained that those op-
posed to woman suffrage are trying to
avoid controversy, notoriety, and SEN
! sationalism."
Tells of Attacks.
This policy has been followed with a
remarkable evidence Of sclf-control
| considering the provocation from the
| other side" she continued. "Our speak
ers and workers have heard themselves
called liars at meetings and in the press
and have been unjustly accused ac-
cording to the mental attitude OF the
| speaker or writer, of being supported
by, affiliated with. or representing the
liquor or vice interests. They have been
| called traitors to their scX-they have
been sworn at by women. Some of them
have had our emblems torn from their
clothing by suTragists.'
| Mrs. Dodge said the ~antis'' dcpre-
cate the recent action OF the president
of the New York State Suffrage AssO-
citation 'who recommends that suf-
! fragists refuse to take part in any
kind of work. charitable. welfare, or re-
lief until they have the vote"
| The resolutions to be sent to Presi-
dent Wilson and the presiding officers
of each house of Congress contains a
/ 10, Is,. ssyrl,n ~l, 81 kt-l
~ o'S Sostorod .S, al os homh ~ thn sufsrn .e
| camp.
The sufragists are charged with
| knowing that their efforts are thor
| oushlv futile" and with making use OF
| the Government for purposes Of self
| advertising and for exhibiting their