Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-25
WOMEN TO OPEN
DEBATE ON BALLOT

ccntisuea from rsse One
waeed, the clause which during all the
years since the federation has been organ
lied. has kept the women suffragists ST.
lenced. ana which IL proposed to wipe out,
reads:
No sectarian or political test is re-
qulred, and no club or society designed
for such a purpose shall bring its dis
cuesions or its subjects into any annual
meeting Of the state Federation, ex-
cept by unanimous consent
Since the convention at wiikes-Barre
last year at which woman suffrage was In
dorsed. II has been discovered just what
the words Unanimous consent" In the
constitution mean. There are a few anti
suffragists in the federation's membership
few but very much "anti'--and one Of
thom, the suffragists have found. can keep
the question forever out OF the discussions,
backed. as they are. by that clause.
STAND AGAINST CHANGE
The proposed constitutional change. how
ever. was not broached until today, the
suffragists having cleared the decks for
action by getting out of the way such
agreeable questions as child labor. mothers
pensions and private charities. Mrs. Will
liam Anderson. OF Aspinwall. Pa. brought
the resolution for the constitutional change
Into the convention.
When she was preparing TO present II,
president and now honorary president OF
the federation and active-very active
president OF the Pennsylvania Association
Opposed to Woman Suffrage, moved down
to the front OF the house. When the ques-
tion was ready to be put she made her
first stand for the preservation Of the con-
stltution.
II have a lady friend whose husband is
a lawyer" she said. "and from her I have
learned that when you informed the dele
gates that you were going TO consider
changes In the bylaws. you cannot legally
consider changes In the constitution and
the standing rules"
BACKED BY ROBERTS
Mrs. Anderson was prepared. She took
from her pocketbook n letter addressed TO
her by General Roberts, author Of the Rules
OF order. She had written TO him and his
letter answered that her stand was legal.
She read It.
That does not cover the question" re-
piled Mrs. Brock. II have the word of my
Indy friend whose husband is a prominent
lawyer, and I have also learned from a
lawyer, whose name would be perfectly
familiar IL 1 disclosed IT, that this is IL
legal"
Mrs. Ronald p. Gleason, of Scranton,
chairman Of the convention, interrupted:
II would like to ask" she said. whether
OF not Lnlb IeCHnlCAlty Oh calling tne con-
stitution bylaws should be permitted to
prevent the consideration of this resolu-
tion7"
CALLED ILLEGAL
well, my lady friend" said Mrs. Brock,
informs me that IL is illegal and prominent
lawyers have told me It is illegal"
Mrs. George w. white. also n fighter
against woman suffrage corroborated Mrs
Brock
II do not think this is a mere technical
ity." she asserted. 1T is more than a tech.
nicallty"
Mrs Hugo Rosenberg, OF Pittsburgh, re-
piled to her. I'VE have had this notice a
long time" she said, land no objection of
any kind has been made. / want to say
that the person attempting now to invoke
this cloture process is guilty of the very
thing for which we women have anathe-
matiZed Congress. II is shame TO at
tempt to choke off the real meaning of this
federation. Even judges on the supreme
bench will allow the intent Of a thing"
ONE VOTE AGAINST
Mrs. Brock then offered an amendment
to the resolution which sought the con-
sideration only OF the standing rules and
bylaws. A standing vote was called for
and nine women stood. The original mo-
tion then was put and carried. Mrs. Brock
was the only woman standing against II,
The suffragists had won. The Consideration
OF the resolution" will be the FIRST order
Of business tomorrow morning"