The Washington herald., 1915-01-07
WILSON ADMIRES
WOMEN'S PLUCK
Repeats that Suffrage Should
Be Won in States, Not
Congress.
GIVES LEADER BOUQUET
Members Dislike His Opinions and
Say So at Tea Given by Mrs.
Armes After Meeting Ends.

Giving flowers instead OF his promise to
aid them, President Wilson yesterday
again disappointed the Democratic wom-
en- in his speech to the 100 delegates who
called at the White House and asked
that he aid them in their fight for the
franchise in Congress. After they had
gone to the New Ebbitt for a tea, follow
ing their call. he dispatched a beautiful
bouquet of White House flowers to Mrs.
Armes, of Washington, their chief
spokesman.
The President repeated his oft-stated
belief that the matter should be dealt
with by the States, and not by the Fed
eral government.
The attitude of the President caused
great disappointment among the ranks
of the suffrage workers, and leaders
intimated that it might affect the fu-
ture Of the Democratic party
Admires Their Fight.
The women We're headed by Mrs.
George E. Armes, of the District of
Columbia branch of the Wilson and
Marshall League. Short addresses in
behalf of the cause were delivered by
Mrs. John f. Turney, of Tennessee, and
Miss Alberta Hill, secretary of the
Women's Political Union of New York
President Wilson replied, in part:
Il have been called on several times
to say what my position is in the very
important matter that you are so deeply
interested in. l want to say that nobody
can look on at the fight you are making
without great admiration, and / GER
tainly am one Of those who admire the
tenacity and the skill and the address
with which you try to promote the mat
ter that you are interested in.
But l. ladies, am tied to a conviction
which l have had all by life that changes
of this sort ought to be brought about
State by State. If it were not a matter
of female suffrage, If it were a matter
of any other thing connected with suf-
frage, l would hold the same opinion
1t is a long-standing and deeply matur-
ed conviction on my part, and therefore
would be without excuse to my own
constitutional principles if lent my sup
port to this very important movement for
an amendment to the Constitution of the
United States
Frankly, I do not think that that is
the wise or the permanent way to build.
l know that you, perhaps, unanimously
disagree with me, but you will not think
the less Of me for being perfectly frank
in the avOwal of my own convictions on
that subject, and certainly that ayowal
represents no attitude of antagonism, but
merely an attitude of principle"
Thinks Statement illogical.
Commenting upon the attitude of the
President following the White House
meeting, DR.. Frances Van Gasken, senior
physician of the Women's Medical Col
lege of Philadelphia, who was one Of the
White House speakers, said:
THE Presidents statement to our
deputation was both inconsistent and IL
logical Here is a man who goes to
Congress and says: You must do this
and 1t is done. He offers powerful aid
to the movement in behalf of Philippine
and in the next breath
refuses to aid in accomplishing tthe err
Of the women of America.
II he had the conviction that woman
suffrage was right and just he would
aid us as no one else at the present
moment could. This he has definitely de-
clared he will never do
The comment of Miss Alice Paul. chair
man of the Congressional Union for
Woman Suffrage, was:
by refusing his support to the national
suffrage amendment, which will be voted
on in the House OF Representatives next
week, President Wilson, as leader of the
party. has laid upon that par
ty a very heavy burden. The Democratic
party through its control of all three
OF the government Is RESPONSE |
bic for the fate of the amendment next
week. II the Democratic members OF |
Congress make as bad a record for their |
party on this subject as has the Presi- |
lent. that party cannot longer hope to re- |
celve the support OF self-respecting |