The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-26
BREACH IN RANKS
OF SUFFRAGISTS
Mrs. Cats Appeals to Women
Against Alignment With
Congressional Union.
MISS PAUL ANSWERS HER
Asserts Older Organization Is Losing
: Thousands of Members and This Is
One Reason for Opposition.

An attack on the policy OF the Congress
sional Union for Woman Suffrage and an
appeal to "all good New York suffragists
to have nothing to do with the organiza-
ton has been made by Mrs. Carrie
Chapman Gait, prominent suffrasist. in
speech before the New York Equal
Franchise Society.
The move Is interpreted at the union
headquarters here as an attempt to on
set the interest aroused by the arrival in
New York of the ENJOYS from the Wom-
an Voters Convention at San Francisco
to President Wilson and Congress. ON
cials OF the union said last night that the
wholesale desertion. since the State cam
paigns. OF the younger suffragists from
State to Federal work is making the old
er leaders anxious. The union illustrates
this assertion with the statement that
during one week this month more than
boo members were received.
Mrs. Gait did not mention us by
name" said Miss Alice Paul. chairman
OF the union. when questioned last night
about the attack. but what she said ap-
plies SO directly TO our work that / am
very glad TO answer some of her points
and particularly TO clear up an evident
misunderstanding on the subject Of Sen
ator Thomas.
Mrs. Gait refers to his supposed re-
fusssl to introduce the Susan b. Anthony
amendment for US We never requested
him 10 introduce the bill. As a matter OF
fact. In contrast to his opposition TO
bringing the bill before the Senate at the
opening OF the last Congress. he an
nounced this year his intention OF intro
ducing II. although several weeks before
hand Senator Sutherland. at the request
of the union. had agreed to do It
1T Is as chairman OF the suffrage COM
mittee that he is now refusing a hear
ing to the ENJOYS of the women voters,
but we do not feel that such a stand
can be maintained by the supposedly i'm
personal head of a Senate committee.
Mrs Gait says that there is not short
cut TO the millennium. But for ourselves,
we have no expectation OF winning the
millennium with votes. but as for its being
no shorter or easier to win votes by
the Federal amendment plan. Mrs. Gait
cannot. / think. have given her careful
thought to the matter.
There is the difference between hav-
ing to reach every man in thirty-seven
States and converting a majority Of
them, and converting two-thirds OF Con-
gress and then a majority OF one in the
Legislatures OF twenty-five States, for
We need only that number. since We al
ready have eleven. not counting Illinois.
for ratification Most important OF all
there is the advantage in the Federal
work OF being able to use the support
and the political power already possessed
by the women OF the West. instead of
letting II go TO waste"
Since the opinions voiced by Mrs. Gait
are really those OF the National Suffrage
and since that orRaniztton
holds its national convention in Washing
ton the week Immediately following that
of the unions. which is to open December
S with a big demonstrations welcome for
the ENJOYS. suffragists all over the coun-
try are wondering whether some agree
ment may not be reached between the
two big suffrage bodies.