New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-02
Leaders Find His Opposi-
ton to Suffrage Amend
ment Weakening.
PRESIDENT PREFERS
STATE SETTLEMENT
Difficulty of Getting Action by
Legislatures Most Effective
Argument.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, Aug. President Will
son, although weakening in his opposi-
ton to the Federal woman suffrage
amendment, still prefers the state by
state plan of granting the ballot to
women. lie made this clear to-day TO
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait. president
Of the National American Woman Suf-
frage Association, toward the close OF
a long interview in which the woman
who has fought so long for suffrage
believes she made more progress for
the length Of time than during any
similar period in her life
Mrs. Gait left the White House be-
lieving that Mr.. Wilson's resistance
to the Federal amendment plan had
been undermined, and that by contin-
uing to present arguments for this
method, which the President cordially
invited her to do, he could be won
over without very long campaign.
Just before seeing Mrs. Gait the
President was informed that Mr..
Hughes had come out for the Susan
b. Anthony amendment, so that he
talked with her in the full knowledge
that his opponent had already granted
all that Mrs. Gait wanted Mr.. Wilson
to do
Mrs. Frank NJ. Roessing, chairman OF
the Congressional committee, was pres
ent at the interview.
"The argument in favor Of the Fed
eral amendment which seemed TO have
the most weight with the President"
said Mrs. Gait, twas the almost i'm
possible task of obtaining fair election
when suffrage referendums are sub
mtted in many of the states. ] point
ed out to him, for instance. the ire
mendous efforts made in sections OF
cities and states most under the in
fuence of corrupt politicians to roll
up majorties against suffrage. This
is clearly shown by the tremendous
votes in such sections when suffrage
amendment is up.
Normally, constitutional amend
ments receive much smaller vote
than the leading candidates, but in
Iowa, last year, there were $4,000 more
votes cast for and against suffrage
than were cast for the various candi-
dates for Governor. Taken in connec-
tion with the fact that the suffrage
amendment was beaten by only 10000,
this is significant.
Il pointed out TO the President, after
citing this instance. that in that same
election II was necessary for voter 70
ask for a special ballot for suffrage, II
he desired 70 vote for or against 1t. and
that in many precincts the supply OF
suffrage amendment ballots ran out
early in the day, thus giving the or
ganized forces against us a tremendous
Lea. dc Of "
would have liked 70 have voted for suf-
frage did not think to inquire why 1T
was not on the ballot with the regular
candidates, and forgot all about IT.
The same idea of separate ballots de-
feated us in Wisconsin.
II laid stress on the fact that the
mere submission of tie Federal amend
ment by Congress is not final, and for
that reason does not seriously infringe
on the states right idea. The amend
ment must be ratified by three-fourths
of the states before it is a part Of the
Constitution. But our difficulty about
fighting corrupt methods would be
much simplifed if we could work on
the Legislatures Of the states instead
of being opposed by all the corrupt in
fuences at the polls.
"The President expressed sympathy
that we had TO work so hard, but COM
plimented US on our splendid progress
so far, saying We had progressed more
rapidly than had any great reform in
history. including the granting of the
franchise TO men.
During a visit TO the Capitol to-day
Mrs. Gait was heckled by Senator'S
and Representatives as to what she
thought Of the Hughes declaration, and
whether she was going to fight Will
sons reelection.
Mrs. Cats unvarying response was
that. rs an officer Of the National
American Woman Suffrage Association
she could not speak. but that at the
convention to be held in Atlantic City
the first week In September, she would
urge that the associations best hope
Of victory would lie in preserving the
present bipartisan attitude.