New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-06
Message to Congress
Seeks Stronger Com
merce Commission
READING HALTED
BY SUFFRAGISTS
Unfurl Banner Asking
President What He Will
Do for Them
-r--n rns Tnhuns Rursaul

Washington, Dec. Or ItslueHI VII
son outlined his plan to prevent rail-
uav strikes in his annual message to
Congress to-day. His programme WAS
that drawn at the time Of the strike
.b-,st ol the brotherhOOds, making
s.rikes illegal until arbitration has
been tried. He also asked a corrupt
r-setices act and broader government
for Porto Rico.
The address was marked by the
srst demonstration Of suffrage mill
tancy in the capital. Woman sdvo-
Gates of the Anthony amendment
s-oke in on the Presidents message,
literally Haunting their question in his
face. .,
president Wilson. what will you do
for woman suffrage
This query, blazoned in black on a
-reat yellow banner, futtered down
scross the face Of the visitors gallery
and checked the President IN the full
swing OF his address. He had lifted
his ewes from his manuscript as the
banner unrolled and hung from the
hands Of FIVE members Of the Women's s
congressional Union, guarded from IN.
,erruption by another five.
Wilson StamIners, Then Smiles
For a moment Mr.. Wilson stared at
the question suddenly flung before
lin. and tripped and stammered over
The next word Of his message. Then
he smiled broadly and returned 70 his
manuscript without giving further
notice 70 the interruption.
This was the welcome that suffrage
-forded 10 the President on his ylcto-
rious temperance before the legis-
lsture Of the nation. Another and FAR
rore acceptable sslutation had pre-
lCded .l.
when The doorkeeper announced
The President Of the United states
and the ioint session rose TO its feet
there was a moment Of silence as ms
Slim. studious figure entered the
chamber. Then the stiffness was shat-
cred bv a full-throated yell, which
proceeded from William jennings
BRYAN. who stood or the floor Of the
House. Members Of the President
Cabinet. TO his left, caught up th'
shout. from there 1t ran 70 the ranks
of the Democrats, upon Mr.. Wilson's
night. and leaped 20 the gaiIeries'
Democrats Celebrate Victory
In q moment half the floor and The
entire balcony was bowling in half
dozen different keys. Across the alsl'
from the frantic adherents Of the Pres
ideut. stood the ranks Of the Repubi'
cans. silent and unmoved by the storm
that broke about them.
For several minutes the Democrats
celebrated their return from victory
As the noise was slackening, Cyclone
Davis. Of Texas. apparently Dellevinl
he was at a camp meeting, burst lortl
with vociferous Amen" when gave
new life 10 the racket.
A few minutes before the entry o.
the President the Democrats had palo
similar. though milder, tribute 70 Mr
Bryan The CommOner came dlrecIiS
from the Office of Claude kitchln to
the floor Of the House. As soon as h'
was recognized. he received demon
stration which must have reminded MIN
Of Presidential conventions.
Wilson Begins, Women Wait
When order was restored, Mr.. Wilson
began his address, reviewing recon
uendations for legislation, anti
strike on railroads, increased power
for the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion, a moro stringent corrupt prac-
aces act ard broader government IN
Porto Rico. Miss Elsie Vernon, leader
Of the sudragists, and her nine accom-
phces Stinened and prepared for action
Miss Vernon is from Nevada. and
had earned earlier fame among the mil
itants By her heckling Of the President
iu h,g American Federation Of Labor
sDeecb on July 4 10 was she who had
smuggled the banner into the house
co~cealins it beneath her coat
As Nr. Wilson turned 70 the question
o. extending the franchise among the
mon of Porto Rico, she and four other
er.pped the upper edge Of the banner
These four were DR.. Caroline l.. Spen.
Ger. OF Montana; Mrs. Florence Bay
ard HTles. Of Delaware; Mrs. Anna
lowenburc. Of Pennsylvania, and Miss
Bessie II PApandre. Of California. The
Eve who stood ready to guard thC
standard bearers against the violenc,
which never came were Miss Maud Gil
bert. Of California; Mrs. ". l.. Colt, Of
New York; Miss Lucy Burns, Of the
Congressional Union, and Mrs. Town
send Scott. Of Maryland.
Present Laws Unjust"
The present laws governing the
island and regulating the rights and
privileges Of rs people are not Just,
read the President.
Then the flag unrolled. It's holders
stood smiling and calm. watching its
effect.
The question was barred 20 the gaIe
O the House only for brief moment
Police and gallery guards started tow
afd where the women were standing.
whether the sufrsgists would have
made further disturbance in the de-
iehee Of their banner will never be de-
trmined, for by the time the first
policeman reached them they were
ehnging only 10 a frayed strip Of yell
70" elk Their flag had been attacked
from below and eonfscated.
Two men on the floor lifted q small