The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-06
SIIFFRAG|STS HECNE WILSON
DURING ADDRESS To CONGRESS
PRESIDENT GIVEN BIG
OVATION ON ARRIVAL
Women Flash a Sufraglst
Banner but Fail to
Disturb Speaker.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Presidenl
Wilson's address TO Congress today
was marked by a woman suffrage coup
n the gallerieS-the first real show
Of organized militancy IN the capital
and by great demonstration ot
congratulations 10 the President upon
reelection in which many Republicans
joined with the Democrats.
After acknowledging the prolonged
cheers and applause which greeted his
entry to the hall of the House. the
President launched into his address.
reviewing recommendation for rail-
road legislation. a corrupt practices
act and had passed 70 his recommen-
dations for a broader government ror
Porto Rico. He was just about to
begin a sentence: The present laws
governing the island and regulating
the rights and privileges OF its people
are not just" when over the rail OF
the gallery, where sat party Of wo-
men suffrage leaders, there futtered
down above the heads Of an amazed
aSSemblage Of senators and represen-
1ativeS Silken banner Of suffrage vel
low. bearing in great black letters the
inscription:
president Wilson. what will you
co fOT woman Suffrage:
The Suffragists said afterward 1t was
their protest against the Presidents
plea with Congress for broader suf-
rage for the men of Porto Rico. while
he did not mention their own cause
IN his address.
Wilson Undisturbed.
As the banner rippled down. the suf-
fragiStS sal smiling Iud uuperturbed.
watching the effect. 4 dlminutlTe
page. raised on the arms Of men di-
rectly under the gallery. graSped the
edge OF the banner and snatched II
down. President Wilson. attracted by
the stir. looked up from his reading
and. apparently taking in the situation
at glance. smiled broadly and with
out hesitation or Interpolation. turned
his eyes back 10 his manuscript ana
continued his address 70 its end With
out further demonstrations.
Policemen and gallery guards hur-
r.ied 20 where The women were seated.
but conteuted themselves with watch
ing the party. as if 10 prevent tur-
ther outbreak.
AS il turned OUT the women haa
their plans laid with precision ana
sprung their coup almost on the sec
ond Evidently in possession OF an
advance COPY of the Presidents adj
dress, they had timed the document
al the speed they expected ne would
read, and anticipated he would reacn
the Porto Rico section IN eight mln-
uteS.
Miss Nebel Vernon. Of Nevada. who
heck!ed the President here a. his AM
ertcan Federation OF Labor speech last
July. and who smuggled the banner
:at0 the House gallery under her coat
today. kept tine and gava the signal
for ,hp urftrling Of thu banner.
Before the police could get 10 the
gallery the sutfragists' press agent
was busr handing out canned re-
ports OF the affair replete in detail,
giving the names Of the mllltants and
interviews with each.
suffs Satisfied.
The coup. say the suffragists. work
cd we'll enough 70 suit them even II
il failed 70 draw any acknowledgment,
and they plan something more start
ling the next time. Everybody around
the Congressional Union who had any
thing TO 10 with it was keen for an
other.
~ was a most excellent demonstra-
:on" saih Chairman Alice Paul. Smtl-
ing happily. certainly We ;nay IN m"
future adopt various methods not diSini-
lar 20 the on" We used toda% {" Keep
Congress reminded oy our cnuSa.
Aside from tha suffrage !t'idcr,. the
d.:uonst ration - welcome which greet
rh the President was th'' fca i'ir'' "t tA*:
ioint session. Many Republicans join
III in applause and cheering wni"h ";iS
ia,! on thn floor by VIA. Jennings
Hryan aul some oc thH cabin"t m"'no"rS.
Il waS said 10 have h"sn IN" most pro
lcngeG outnur&; al It's Kind since the
President began IN" custom ~ reading
his addresses N person nearly -FOUR
wears ago.
All the Presidents recommendations
fnr railroad legislation have b""n pre-
viouSly published. Al the iaSt moment
E,. added 2 rHco n me ndat;0n :nr passage
-: a Vnca sional aiura tinnat bill.