Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-09-07
MAY RECONSIDER QUESTION
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait,
President of the Nat. Women
Suffrage Association, Wants
Passage of Federal Amend
ment Principal Aim.

Atlantic City n. j. Sept. 6.-The Ma
tional Women Suffrage association by
an overwhelming vote to-day decided
to continue it's present policy of work.
ing for equal rights through both ma
| tional and State legislation. The vote
was taken after long debate and no
sooner had the applause that greeted
the announcement Of the action taken
ceased than a resolution was presented
which threatens to again open the
whole question tomorrow.
Virtually all the speakers declared
for strict neutrality in the presidential
campaign and to continue the non-par-
tisan efforts Of the association to bring
about equal suffrage throughout the
United States.
Women from every State in the Union
are attending the 4Sth annual conven-
tion of the association. which was
called two months in advance of its
regular meeting because of the national
political campaign.
The question of continuing the pres
ent policy of the association came be-
fore the convention in the form Of two
proposed amendments to the organza-
tons constitution. One proposed that
the association drop work on State leg
islation and concentrate on the pro-
posed amendment to the federal consti-
| tuition. The other provided that the
: association cease it's efforts in behalf
: of the federal amendment and confine
its activities to getting woman's suf-
frage by States. The amendments were
defeated by viva voce vote in which
few affirmative voices were heard.
e. Then Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait presi-
= ta
following resolution:
+ The 4Sth annual convention Of the
Woman's Suffrage association inter-
D prets article of the constitution.
1 which pledges our auxiliaries to se-
D cure the vote for women by appropri-
I ate national and State action. as mean
: ing that the federal amendment is our
, immediate and principal aim; and that
I all State campaigns, whether legisla.
tive or referendum. are preparatory te
q this end"
Miss Laura Clay Of Lexington. Ky,
a n staunch advocate of States rights,
. Immediately attacked the resolutions
= as undemocratic and as multiplying the
, action just taken by the convention,
, The resolution also stirred up oppose
tion among other delegates and there
was every evidence of stormy ses-
SION. motion by Miss Clay that the
resolution be laid on the table was de-
! featcd and then further debate was
= shut off by the carrying of a motion
1 made by Miss Hannah J. Patterson Of
> IittSburg. Pa. corresponding secre.
tary, that the resolution be made a
special order for IL 100 a. m. tomorrow
There was a three -cornered debate
, on the policy quetion. Miss Clav led
the forces who favored exclusive State
/, action; Mrs Ida Hustled Harper. New
York, was the principal speaker for
| concentration on the federal amend
, ment, and Mrs. Raymond Brown, New
York. made the principal address in
favor OF no change in policy.
Mrs. Gait opened the discussion and
J. amused the delegates by stating that
Charles F. Hughes. the repubIican
presidential nominee had told her tha
the republican platform came nearer "a
what the suffragis want than that of
the Democratic party. and that on ths
other hand, President Wilson told heI
the democratic platform was nearer "a
woman suffrage than the republican
platform,
She said, however that she believe,
r both presidential candidates were sin
n. cere and honest. and declared that both
= were far ahead of their respective par
ties in their views on the suffrage ques.
tion.
- DR. Anna Howard shaw former pres.
ident Of the association loudly ap.
pauded when she was called upon ia
~, close the debate. The non partisan
- campaign for equal rights the associa
ton has waCed for so many years, she
said had brought the suffrage ques.
= tion up to where 1t is to-day. Educa.
20 tion of men, rather than partisan po'
- litcal action upon the part OF the as.
. sociation, she said. was the best meth.
. cd to bring about universal equal suf'
~ frage.
- The announcement to the delegate.
ar that President Wilson will speak at tn.
a. convention Friday night was greeted
with long applause.