New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-26
"HECKLING" THE president
A Defence Of the Recent Tactics Of
Sufragists.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: There seems to be a systematic ~
tempt on the part Of the press to nisrep'"
sent the character OF the visit OF some ms-'
bers Of the Congressional Union fer woman
Suffrage 70 President Wilson.
They are spoken Of as "hsrrytng' i'i
"heckling" and badgering him or yelling
and acting like "harridans obtruding' and
militant" and other ridiculous accusations
have been heaped upon them.
These things are ABSOLUTELY untrue. Tie
Young women we're not in the slightes. DE-
gree dscourteous to the President or bis
secretary, nor were they received dIseori'
teously. Quite the contrary, it seeTas to hs''
been a pleasant little occasion. Way IS se
ing TO sec the President militant or pr"
senting him with note "badgering"i
To me they are very peaceful and poll"
attentions. To those who say that the Pres
dent has already told sufragis,s what "
thinks of woman suffrage, we reply thH
he is the leader of the Democrats party U
is we'll worth our while 20 continue 70 p"
before him the justice and progress OF ."
cause, for our experience IN Ike cases "a
taught US that men can be made TO enAhs'
their minds. Men of all kinds, from brewer
to newsboys, may ask 70 see the Presldeh'"
all times, to talk on all sorts Of matters s''
the press does not burst into mysteries aa'
call them names, and no one hints tna' u"
are "obtruding" or militant" But lei w
women who are working 20 secure 'ha' ~
man liberty" that President Wilson eis'1'
TO feel so keenly interested IN politely W
five minutes OF his time, and 10 and oeh0''
it Is "heckling" and militant"
The President can give up whole aa'
90 70 Philadelphia TO welcome alien men
citizenship, but he cannot give hys minus
to Philadelphia and New York women N1'
have worked for over sixty years 20 Qua.
true citizenship. That Is indeed al 'n'',
to American women difficult to forgive DIV
impossible to forget.
Tho tone Of criticism has been that SUI
fragists should not trouble the ffe''Ds.'
when he is absorbed In serious. ANXIOUS PRIV
lens. There can be no question as pre'''".
and important as that Of enfraneh'sihs "Ai
the human race It's intrinsic dignity S"'
Lasic quality make all othe: problems e'''
those Of war or peace. small in compsr''V'
with It. Women help pay the Pres'oeH', ,
salary and the maintenance Of the navy S"'
in case Of war women and their eh"u'''
would be the greatest sufferers
With hot-headed fools trying 10 91lnge :. :.
into war, women would indeed be ialse NJ "
their duty and to their country II they Is.
not seize every opportunity to BRING hO o.,
10 their President the urgency OF No'es ~
American women. Far from being an 'har
propriate time. it was a peculiarly n'''-'
one in which 70 remind him OF tie 49,
pleteness Of our democratic government - -
Of his passion for human liberty ior "n.'s
he says he has RECKLESS entnus'7',-
Woman suffrage is not irrelevant to wal 70
an absolutely essential part OF the W.,
democracy which alone can secure peace y
our beloved country. ANS
Member of Advisory Council % the ConS'''
sonal Union for Woman suffrage
New York, May 2l, 1915.