The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-18
HEARING
THE WOMEN
Both Sides Before the House
Judiciary Com
mittee
DOCTOR SHAW
EXPLAINS DIVISION
Plans Being Made to Adjust
the Differences Among
the Suffragists

Washington, d. G., Dec. lS,-Dr. Anna
Howard Shaw, Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Gait, Miss Alice Stone Blackwell and
other prominent suffrage workers Thurs
day appeared before the House commit
tee on Judiciary to urge the woman suf-
frage amendment to the constitution.
The vote which had been polled in favor
of suffrage at the recent elections in
five of the eastern states, the speakers
declared, showed the growing demand for
the ballot. Mrs. Gait predicted that no
power on earth could prevent the event
ual success of the movement, even
though it might not be successful dur
ing the present Congress. She also de-
clared that no one could produce an ar
gument against the measure which would
hold water, and pointed out that the
only objection to it was an innate preju'
dice against it.
! Dr. Shaw at the request of the COM
mittee, explained the difference between
the Congressional union and the National
association and said that the former
was an outgrowth of the latter, using,
however, different tactics in obtaining
the same result. 1t was suggested that
these tactics were more or less militant.
Miss Blackwell gave the history Of the
movement and traced its increasing pop
ularity. Other speakers were Mrs. Hat
tie Jacobs of Alabama, Miss Caroline
Rentz Rees of Connecticut, Mrs. Harriet
Stokes Thompson of Chicago and Mrs.
George Bass Of Illinois. Women voters
of the western states were also given a
hearing and the "antis" were heard in
the afternoon.
Members of the committee questioned
spokesman of the Congressional union
closely as to their reasons for campaign
ing in the last election against Demo-
cratic candidates for reelection to the
House who had supported the suffrage
cause. Miss Paul, Mrs. Minna Van Win
kle of New Jersey, Mrs. Lillian Ash
cough Of Connecticut, and other speakers
frankly declared that they had opposed
these candidates because they had par.
in Democratic caucus which
deereed that the federal suffrage amend
ment should not be made part Of the
legislative program at the last session.
Several of the women remarked that
their campaign had been effective, as the
Democratic leaders were not now pro-
posing to prevent vote on the amend
ment by caucus action.
Mrs. Dodge told the committee that
the anti-suffragists represented the great
najority of unorganized women OF the
country who opposed suffrage and be-
ieyed that the question should be left
% the states. She referred to the recent
iefeat of suffrage in New York, Massa-
'husetts and other states and said il
would be unfair for Congress 70 force !.
hese states 10 vote again on a sub.
ect already decided Mrs. o. D. Oliph.
mt, secretary of the New Jersey sssoeia-
son opposed 10 suffrage, declared that !,
women were not suffering any injustice
rom man-m made government.
Joint action with the Congressional Z
nion for women suffrage in the fight
efore Congress for a federal suffrage
mendment was determined upon by the :
rational association in convention. The
ssociation adopted resolution proposed
y Miss IONA Gale of Portage, Wis, :
iembcr Of both Of the rival organiza-
ions. setting forth that while all suf Y
ragists have a common cause at heart Z
difference Of method Is inevitable" and Z
royiting for appointment Of a commit v
se Of 1--we 10 confer with a similar COM
littee from the union and bringing :
bout cooperation with a maximum Of y
ficieney for the successful passage Of y
he Susan y, Anthony federal amend.
ent az this session Of Congress" Since y
'on after the formation Of the Con. =
union the two bodies have =
zen At odds, the leaders Of the associa- "
on disapproving Of the so-called mill -
mt tactics Of the union. IN