The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-06-20
EQUAL RIGHTS PLANK A good speculation
Stirs WOmen's Ire-All Factions De-
nounce As Inadequate Democrats
Attitude on Suffrage In Plat
fOrm-Threaten War on
Wilson and Congress

st. Louis, Mo, June 16--Leaders OF
both the woman's party and the Ma.
tional American Woman Suffrage As.
ISOLATION tonight united in denouncinG
az inadequate the suffrage plank OF
the Democratic platform and declared
they would Immediately resume theiI
fight in Congress for national recog-
milton.
I'VE shall return to Washington as
quickly as possible" Miss Anna Mar
tin, chairman Of the Woman's party
seid. eve are going to give the Demo-
cratic Congress one more chance ia
make good before adjournment II il
does not see 1T to pass a constitutional
amendment, war will follow
"Some of the Democratic leaders
pretend to see declaration for ma
tional suffrage in the plank they have
given us. do not 80 interpret It. But
we shall give congressional leaders ev-
cry chance to read that Interpretation
into it If they want to. regard the
Democratic plank weaker than the
Republican. The preamble of the lat.
ter, at least, is regarded by some as
giving national Endorsement to suf-
frage.
Plans Not Decided
Thus far we have not worked out
details of our plans for fighting the
Democratic party this fall, for we have
hopes that the congressional leaders
will see the light. But if they continue
to oppose us, we will fight them. And
II will be a good fight, too. We have
100000 women voters, 100000 in
cash, a good cause, and a determined
spirit With all of these we can not
help but win"
Immediately after the adjournment
of the convention, Mrs. Carrie Chap
man Gait, president of the National
American Woman Suffrage Associa-
ton, called a special meeting of her
national board and later issued the
following official statement:
mo suffragist who was present at
the convention today could misinter-
pref either the speeches or the action
taken by the Democratic party in
adopting the alleged woman suffrage
plank i'm its national platform.
Tried To HOOdwink Women
THE Democrats admitted freely in
their speeches that political exigency
demanded some kind of suffrage
plank, and they thought to hoOdwink
the women by a tumble of words that
we're designed TO meet the situation,
but In no sense succeeded.
THE so-called suffrage plank which
they adopted. after bursts Of eloquence
THAT were far more frank than intelli-
gentfl can not be expected to win the
presidential campaign for them. But
it may we'll be expected to win the
'antagonism of millions Of men and
women voters in all parts of the coun
try.
at the plank adopted today is the
Presidents choice the world may just
ly accuse him of descending to the
tricks of the cheapest politician in or
der to bid for votes by Haunting
plank that may be interpreted in as
many ways as there are people"
Mrs. Gait also sent the following
telegram to President Wilson:
To Plan Attack
"lnasmuch as Gov. Ferguson, of
Texas, and Senator Walsh, of Montana,
made Numerically opposite state
ments in the Democratic Convention
today with regard to your attitude to-
ward the suffrage plank adopted by the
convention, we apply TO you directly
to state your position on the plank and
give your precise Interpretation of its
meaning"
The National will hold another of its
Executive Board meetings tomorrow
TO outline a definite plan of attack on
Congress in an effort to push through
the Susan B. Anthony, or another, con-
stitutional amendment.