The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-16
NOTED WOMEN
UNITE IN PLEA
FOR DEFENCE
Suffs and Ants Drop Diff
ferences at Big Meeting
in Washington.
APPEAL TO WILSON;
r N SPEAKS.

wAsHINGroH. Nov. I5.-Many we'll
known women from all parts Of the
United States met here to-day and Or
ganized for the promotion Of national
defence. The meeting was held under
the auspices Of the women's section Of
the Navy League.
Among those who participated IN tho
conference and who pledged themselves
to use their best efforts for the further
ence of the preparedness Issue were
Mrs. William Cummings Story. presi-
dent-general OF the n. A. r.. Mrs. Frank
d. Odenheimer, president-general OF the
United Daughters OF the Confederacy I: |
Mrs. o.. II. +. Belmont, president OF the
Political Equality tnlon Mrs. Arthur
Dodge. president of the National Asso-
citation opposed to Woman Suffrage
Mrs. Ada H.. Weiss, president of the Lee
gion of Loyal Women Mrs. Katherine
Roche, president Ladies' OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic: Miss Mabel
Boardman of the American Red Cross
Central COMMITTEES Mrs. William Alex.
ander. president OF the Special Relief
Committee Mrs. Reynold T. Hail. pres
ident Of the Society OF Naval Sponsors
Mr-. Francis W. Baker. president of the
children's auxiliary Of the Woman's Ma
tional Made In America League. and Miss
Frences A. Keller OF tho National Amer
icanization Committee.
These women and several hundred
others who Joined In this first national
defence conference OF its kind listened
10 some plain truths from Franklin d.
Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary OF the
Navy. He described the American navy
az unexcelled in quality. but hopelessly
inadequate in quantity.
L. s. Navy Outranked.
syIa zee - aatd ~. ssn,,~o.a L.. ~.
umb of lighting vessels and total dis
placement by the navies OF a number of
Foreign Powers. should war come our
navy would be hopelessly overmatched
not in the quality OF the ships and off,
GERS, but by the overwhelming number
OF vessels and men which foes could
bring against us.
Among the plans which the Navy
Department has In view for securing
and training a naval reserve Is the es-
adjustment of one or more naval train
ing amp on the Plattsburg idea In
which seamen from our merchant ma
rine, firemen. coal passers. merchant
o&nalmen and motor boat men can be
trained so that In case of emergency
they can perform a~cceptably the duties
OF sailors in the navy or on naval aux
1liaries."
The suffrage issue intruded itself into
the days proceedings. Col. John Temple
Graves. who presided at the afternoon
session, was responsible for this when
lie introduced Mrs. q. II. Z. Belmont as
president OF the Political Equality Union.
Mrs. Belmonts address included a
strong plea for suffrage and in strong
language rehearsed the story OF mother
hood, contending that the burden of man
IN carrying the gun Is as nothing to
the burden of the woman in beari.g
and rearing men.
tini Graves nnnp thu conclusion -
Mrs. Belmonts address unfortunately
introduced Mrs. Arthur VI. Dodge. prssi-
dent OF the National Association Op-
posed to Woman Suffrage, with the All
nouncement that having heard frIm
the one side We will now near from tae
other Col. Graves added an ~allusior
TO the Lion and The lamb who would
meet together later in loving reunion,
Mrs. Dodge boldly accused the pre-
aiding officer of bad taste" She made
an earnest plea for defence, but had
nothing further TO say on suffrage.
When she took her seat Col. Graves.
who appeared somewhat ~cresfallen.
3pologized, saying:
Ladies. there are no lambs here, but
there are lionesses."
\. resolution was adopted calling Presi-
dent Wilson and Congress and the
other public servants of the nation
to do all IN their power to provide suf-
Ncltnl u'llpNAl I'Itutt 10 protect tnlS
country from Invasion and the threats
OF war. Copies Of the resolution were
sent TO the President, to the President
of the Senate, to the Speaker of 'he
House and to the Secretaries of the
War and Navy. The resolution con-
tained the request that the conferences
petition be laid before both houses OF
Congress.
Ask for America First.
10
citizens who by birth or naturalization
have come INTO the Inheritance of citi-
zcnship to place America first in their
lives and hearts,
Tho announcement was made that the
officers OF the league hoped TO have one
million women enrolled In the women's
section by january /.
A board of governors was elected as
follows Alabima, Mrs. Rhett Goode,
birmingham Arizona, Mrs. Henry +.
AshhurSt. Phoenix Arkansas, Mrs. l..
l.. Whitney. Little Rock California.
Mrs. George NJ. Mackenzie, San Diego
Connecticut, Miss Julia Marlowe tMrs.
Il. II. Sothern). Litchfeld; Colorado,
Mrs. John Mcneil, Denver Delaware.
Mrs. Charles u, Miller. Wilmington
District of Columbia, Mrs. George
Dewey. Washington.
Florida. MIS-. duncan u. Fletcher.
jacksonville Georgia, Mrs. Robinson.
Atlanta Idaho, Mrs. May T.. McGlinchy.
Fayette Illinois. Mrs. John A. Logan
Indiana, Mrs. Henry A. Beck. Indianap-
oils Iowa, Miss Flora Wilson Kansas.
Mrs. Georgs 7. Guerney; Kentucky. Mrs
Hugh scott Louisiana, Mrs. James
Thompson. New Orleans Maine, Mrs.
Samuel Hazlctt, Bangor Maryland, Mrs.
Yates Sterling, Baltimore Massachl-
sets. Mrs. George V. Meyer, Boston.
Michigan, Mrs. Henry L. JOY. Detroi.
Minnesota, Mrs. edward w. Backus.
Minneapolis Mississippi. Mrs. Daisy
Mel. Stevens, Brandon Missouri, Mrs.
Philip y, Moore, ST, Louis Montana,
Mrs. Minnie r. Tennis, Butte Nebraska,
Mrs. Russell Il. Harrison Nevada, Mrs.
]. p. Ellis, Carson city New Hamp-
shire, Mrs. Charles T.. Abbott, keene
New Jersey, Mrs, Thomas A. Edison /;
New Mexico. Mrs. Andrius Jones.
New York, Mrs. John Hays Hammond;
North Carolina, Mrs. d. NJ 'Falson. Hail.
fax: North Dakota, Mrs. j, II, S, Thorn
son. Valley City; Ohio. Mrs, Nicholas
Anderson; Oklahoma, Mrs, William X.
Clement. Oklahoma City; Oregon, Mrs.
Thomas Haley. Portland, Pennsylvania,
Mrs. Alex Van Rensselaer,: Rhode Island,
Mrs. lie Baron Colt. Providence: South
Carolina, Mrs. T.. $. Mather. Columbia;
South Dakota, Mrs. Edward Il. keator,
Watertown; Tennessee, Mrs, l.. d. Tyson,
Knoxville; Texas. Mrs. Henry II, Fall,