The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-23
.SUFFRAeISTS CRITICS
OF President WILSON
Speakers on Fifth street Blame For
Refusal to Meet Represen-
tatives Recently.
GOOD CROWD HEARS ORATORS
Fifth street Speakers Blame Him For
Richmond Held From Automobile
last Nigh;--Received Cautiously

Richmond Held From Automobile
last Nigh;--Received Cautiously
Filter criticism levelled at Presi.
dent Wilson and the threat to force
equal suffrage upon the unwilling
states were the outstanding features
of the addresses delivered last night
bv foreign and local suffragists in the
first street corner meeting ever held
by suffragists In Richmond.
Miss Mabel Vernon, of Delaware.
who is here to help form branch
Of the Congressional Union, to fight
for an amendment to the Consiitu-
ton giving women the right to vote.
was the critic of the President. Mrs
Edna Lattimer, of Baltimore. deciar-
ed that the 100000 women voters
of the country can control a national
election, and IL Congress does not
pass the proposed amendment the
party in power will ne held respon-
siblc.
Mrs. Flanagan Brings Dissent.
The temper of the members of tho
Congressional Union. which Ii the
organization OF the militant" suf-
fraglsts of the country, was shown
last night by the dissent given when
mond,. told the crowd that I'VE would
rather have the vote from you Than
from Congress"
mo, no." came from Miss Vernon
and Mrs. Charles v. Meredith, who
presided at the meeting.
But we d." said Mrs. Flanagan.
and stuck to It.
The meeting attracted 1000
crowd. the places OF those leaving
being rapidly filed by newcomers,
and the speeches were heard with
courtesy and attention on the Part
OF the crowd. IL not with enthusiasm
Perfect order was kept and the
speeches. which were delivered In
some impression, though applause
was infrequent
Miss Vernon, introduced by Mrs
Meredith, was the first speaker. She
departed somewhat from the lines OF
her recent address from the steps Of
the state Capitol, arguing that ruf-
frace has now become q national is
sue and that State lines are ''imagi-
nary" Her criticism OF the Presi-
dent came when she referred TO his
address in Philadelphia to newly
naturalized citizens of Pennsylvania.
declaring IL to be an iudignity to
won en- that while he could find time
to address aliens he refused to lis
ten to suffragists. who, on the occa-
sioE. of his visit, asked to be heard in
the interest of their cause. 1T hurt
US and 1t caused resentment" she
said. The crowd gave no response.
The Unions Program.
Mrs Lattimer told of the progress
of equal suffrage in the West and
calling attention 10 The fact that
there are 100000 women voters in
the country told what I'VE propose to
do, and what we are going to do"
She said that suffrage States control
one-fifth of the Senate. one-sixth of
the House Of Representatives and
riinety-one votes in the electoral col
iege That is enough" she said, ito
control a national election. We are
going to Congress next fall with this
amendment and do all that is re-
quirs1. We are organizing the wo-
men voters of the country. and II
Congress docs not adopt this amend
ment we are going TO hold the ma
jority party responsible ! believe
the Democratic party viii be wise
enough to give 1t to us"
Mrs. Meredith and Mrs Flanagan
spoke briefly, the latter saying that
she wished 10 speak merely that she
might have the honor Of address,
ing the first open-air meeting ever
held by the suffragists In Richmond"
Mrs. Flanagan commented on the
fact that the speakers had been
treated courteously, ''as we knew we
declared thar IL they attempted to
speak on the streets they would be
insaited.
To Make Tt an Issue.
I'VE are going to make national
equal suffrage q real issue In the next
presidential campaign IL we DO not
secure the passage by the next Con-
grsss of constitutional amendment
giving equal suffrage" declared Mrs.
Edna S. Latimer. of Baltimore, yes
terday afternoon. And we believe
pass the amendment" added Miss
Mabel Vernon, of Wilmington. Del.
ana Mrs. Charles v. Meredith. OF
Richmond, almost In the same mo-
ment.
Mrs. Iatimer and Miss Vernon are
In Richmond. guestt at the Hotel
Jefferson. They are here to organ
ize thoroughly In Virginia what Is
known as the Congressional Union. q
movement for the securing Of pas
sage Of the constitutional amendment
giving suffrage to women. The Con-
greEssonal Union 10 already organ
ICED and at work IN . number Of the
States. and during Congress' recess,
the organization II calling upon MEM
bers OF Congress, In both the House
and the Senate, presenting to them
the fact that there d : great demand
4 rs ( "a