The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-14
PLEA TO WILSON
Suffrage Leaders Urge Him to
Give Women Freedom.
He Tells Them to Seek RecOg-
milton at Home First.
SARAH BARD FIELD ACTIVE
She Wires Letter to Him in Be-
half of the Cause.
Charges That Republican Zeal
Backs Issue Are Denied.
tBY SAM w. SMALL, JR.)

ST Louis, June 1.-THE real fight
at st. Louis is for the woman suffrage
plank in the Democratic platform and
the gentle hint has been dropped to
the Democratic leaders that they will
ALLEVIATE the Democratic women
among the million women votes IN
suffrage states unless the convention
here declares for equal suffrage for
women
1t can be said truthfully that the
wome n leaders tire not making any
threats. They simply say to President
Wilson and the men who will frame
the policies of the party that there are
thousands Of women with the ballot in
doubtful states and it would be a
shame if the Democratic women felt
that their principles would not per-
NIT them to vote for party that had
refused to aid women all over the
country to the right of suffrage.
Mrs. Field Active.
Mrs. Sarah Bard Field, of San
Francisco, who was the first woman
to lead suffrage delegation from a
suffrage state to the White House,
telegrarned a message to President
Wilson The president told eight dele
cations Of women from states where
women do not vote, to go back home
and seek recognition from the state
government To Mrs. Field he said
that his mind was open on the subject
of suffrage and so Mrs. Field, in the
beHef that his mind is still open, gives
nim a few facts intended to influence
MIN for the Suff1 age plank Part of
her letter read:
Il have been informed that the
Democratic party considers the atti-
tude of the Congressional union for
woman suffrage toward the party as
ore of hostility and that our actiyi-
ties in behalf of the Susan Is. Anthony
amendment are directed by Republi-
can zeal. l know that you as a states
man could not so miSinterpret orr
policy OF holding the party in power
responsible for the failure or success
OF legislative measures. 1 need. there
Tore, spend no time in assuring YOU
that our course has been wholly free
from personal or party antagonisrns
Many Women Democrats.
What L do want to tell you very
earnestly as Democratic VIC Inan.--and
what / fear you do not realize-is
that many members of the Conrres-
slonal union and the new WoII1en,s
party are loyal Democrats, eager that
their party should have the honor OF
freeing the women of the country DO
iitically as the Republicans had the
honor of freeing politically the ne
groes Therefore. the pressure which
democratic women in the Congress
slonal union have brought to bear
upon the Democratic party in regard
10 the passage of this amendment ha $
been one of desire for party service
as wei as service to women
Three bodies of suffra gists are rep-
resented by strong delegations in St.
LOUIS and all are working for suffrage
planks but in different ways.
The resolutions committee, if it rec
ommends a suffrage prank, NAV not
be able to please all the women. but
the main object of the Democratic
women is to get some sort of offici,
deciaration from the party that will
noio the Democratic women voters in
the party ranks
Delegates, national committeeman
and members of the resolutions com
r111ttec have been buttonhoIed and sriv
eE earnest advice. The women report
faVora bic reception in every quarter
ana nave number of pledges.