South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-06
SUFFRAGE COUPE
SPRUNG IN HOUSE
Unfuri Banner While President
is Addressing Joint
Session.

frage coupe in the galleries-the
first real show Of organized mill
fancy in the capitoi-and By great
demonstration OF corgratulation 70
the president upon his reelection in
which many republicans Joined with
the democrats.
After acknowledging the pro-
longed cheers and applause which
erected his entry into the hall of the
house. the president launched into
his address. reviewing recommen-
datiOns for railroad legislation,
corrupt practices act. and had pass
ed 10 his recommendations for
broader government for Porto Rico.
lie had Just about begun a sentence.
The present laws governing the is
land and regulating the rights and
privileges Of its people are not just
when over the rail of the gallery,
where sat a party OF woman suffrage
leaders. there huttered down above
the heads Of an amazed mblage
OF senators and Representatives, a
silk banner OF suffrage yellow. bear
ing i'm great black letters this in
scription:
'Pres't Wilson. what will you do
for woman suffrage ."
The suffragists said afterward. il
was their protest against the presi-
dents plea with congress for broad
er suffrage for the men Of Porto
Rico while ne did not mention their
own cause in his address
President Smiles Broadly.
As the banner rippled down the
sunragists sat smiling and upper
turbed watching the effect. A small
page raised on the arms Of men
directly under the gallery. grasped
the edge OF the banner and snatch
ed 10 down. Pres't Wilson. attracted
hy the stir. looked up from his read
ING and apparently taking in the
situation at a glance. smiled broadly
and without Hesitation or Interrupt
tion turned his eyes back 10 his
manuscript and continued his ad-
dress To it's end without further DEM
onstrations
Policemen and gallery guards
scurried 20 where the women were
seated but conteuted themselves
with watching the party as If to
prevent a further outbreak.
When the joint session was over,
the sunragists filed out unmolested
by the police. who said they had no
orders other than 30 prevent any
further infringement of the rules Of
the house The banner remained a
trophy with the sergeant-at-arms.
= it turned out. the women had
th. plans laid with precision and
50 L.. their coupe almost on the
sd ond Evidently i'm possession Of an
adj -ance copy of the presidents ad-
dress they had timed the document
az the speed they expected he would
read. and anticipated he would
reach tho Porto Rican section in
eight minutes.
Mis- Mabel Vernon OF Nevada,
VINO heclled the president here at
his American Federation OF Labor
speech last July. and who Struggled
the banner into the house gallery
under her coat today kept time and
save the signal for the unfurling of
the banner.
Before the police could get TO the
gallery the suffragists' press agent
was busy handing out canned re-
ports of the affair replete i'm detail.
giving the names OF the militants
and interviews with each.
The consensus OF their opinion
was summed up by Mrs. Abby Scott
Baker OF the Congressional union,
who declared the incident was EEK
pressive Of the Indignation that
women feel at the stupid and sense
less opposition 10 granting the right
OF self government 10 one-half the
people OF the United States"
The ten women who participated
in the coupe marched OF. acclaimed
heroines to Congressional union
headquarters where they held a re-
eeption
Miss Mabel Vernon Of Nevada.
pr Caroline =. Spencer of Colo
RADIO. Mrs. Florence Bayard Hlles OF
Delaware. Mrs. John Rodgers Of
New York Mrs. Anna LowenburE OF
Pennsylvania. Miss Bessie H.
Papandre. and Miss Maud Gilbert.
of California. Mrs w. l.. Colt OF
New York Miss Lucy Burns OF the
Congressional union. and Mrs
Townsend Scott OF Maryland. com
posed the suffragist party. The FIRST
i've held the banner and the latter
five acted as guards. prepared TO
resist interference.
The women had carried on their
preparations so carefully. however.
vhat none OF the hundreds OF spec
yators surrounding them had any
inkliug of their plans.
kCcn for Another Coup.
The coupe. say the suffragists.
worked well enough 20 suit them
even II IL failed 90 draw any ac-
Acknowledgement and they plan some
thing more startling the next time.
IcVerybodv around the Congressional
union who had anything 90 do with
this one was keen for another.
IA60W 0lIlT BECAUSE