The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-08
Hundreds More Add Argument
Of Sacrifice by Marching In
Rain.
BAND BROWNS "ANTIs'" TALK
Senator Lodge Presides in Over.
coat-Carpenters Add to the
Symphony Of Noise.

COLISEUM, Chicago, June s-wom-
en-. between three and four thousand Of
them. fighting for equal suffrage. gave
the drab proceedings of the Republican
convention their nrst thrill late yester-
day.
Staid members OF the committee on
regulations perked up and listened to
arguments presented to them in the
/ first public hearing ever granted by
trainers of the party platform In @. o.
p. history.
The great floor space at the Coliseum,
where a thousand men sat unmoved
when Temporary Chairman Harding
made hts speech. was pulsing with en-
thusiasm and color when. the women
arrived.
They arrived in the middle of the ar
guments of members Of the National
Association Opposed to Woman Suf-
frage and all but broke up the meet
the Coliseum. appropriated space in the
galleries, press box, and. despite pre-
vious ruling of the committee. took
places on the stage. To the arguments
the committee. the hundreds of women
added the argument of self-sacrifice in
their demonstration in the horrible
weather prevailing.
Women Smash Presidents.
They applauded their speakers vigor-
ously. and generally broke all prec-
, edents for proceedings as set by the big
convention which met at noon yester-
day.
Senator Lodge, chairman of the COM
mittee. presided in an overcoat. ons
half hour each was allotted to the
ma tional organization in favor of WON.
ans suffrage. the National Association
Opposed to Woman's Suffrage and
the Congressional Union.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait was the
tirst speaker urging the suffrage
Mrs. Gait read the resolution adopt
day urging a suffrage plank in the
Republican platform.
Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout. Illinois.
clad in a dainty white dress and with
a yellow sash OF The Cause" draped
about her, took up the argument, Sem
ator Lodge looked up and appeared
interested for the first time.
NO power on earth can stop this
the committee.
Mrs. Frank N. Roessenser, OF Penn
sylvania, followed.
The Plank They Want.
Mrs. Gait closed by stating that the
plank which the Republicans are re-
quested to put in the platform is:
THE Republican party. reaffirmins its
belief in government OF the people by
the people and for the people, declares
itself In favor Of woman's suffrage as
an act of Justice to one-half the adult
population OF the country"
Mrs. Arthur NJ. Dodge. of New York.
! opened for the anti-suffragists. and at
the same time a carpenter in the rear
of the Coliseum began knocking vigor-
ously. He had nothing on Mrs. Dodge
and her followers so far as votes for
| women IL concerned.
Mrs. Alice Hin Chittenden said she
believed II would be unwise for the
| Republicans to take up another CON
| troversal issue" at this time. Mrs. NJ.
| Bronson followed her.
While the ants had the floor the
suffrage parade arrived outside. The
crash of band and thea the shrieking
OF auto sirens swept W rom the street.
| In few minutes wom, were pouring
! In by hundreds. Ped l. led, soaked by
| the rain, and with hair streaming but
with enthusiasm undiminished, the suf-
! frage workers took seats in the dele
gates chairs and poured into the press
section.
A majority were wearing straw hats
with n yellow band. the hats being bad
| ly water-logged. The marchers slip
| ped into their seats quietly, gazing with
smiles at the "antis.'' The anti-suf-
fragists coESenued their arguments, but
the attention of the committee was sad
ly distracted as women continued to
pour in and the numbers grew into hum
dred.