Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-06
WOMEN UNFURL
SUFFRAGE FLAG
BEFORE WILSON
Drop Struggled Banner Over
Rail of House as He
Reads Message.
LOOKS UP SMILINGLY.
AND CONTINUES ADDRESS
Leaders of Coup, Enthusiastic.
Allowed to Go Un-
moleSted.
PRESIDENT GETS OVATION
All Parties Join i'm Great Demon
stratiOn Over His Re.
Election.
PRESIDENT GETS OvATIo,
All Parties Join in Great Demon
stratiOn Over His Re-
Election.
fBy Associated prcss.l

fBy Associate cd Prcssl
! WASHINGTON. December 5-Prcsi-
dent Wilson's address to Congress to-
day was marked by n woman sufrrac.
coup in the gallerics--thc first real
show Of organized nilitancy in the
capital-and by great demonstration
Of congratulation to the President upon
his recollection. in which many Rcpub-
licans joined.
Aften acknowledging the prolonged
cheers and applause which greeted his
entry to the hall of the House. the
President had launched into his ad-
dress reviewing recommendations for
railroad Legislation. 4 corrupt practices
act. and had passed to his recommen-
dations for broader government for
Porto Rico. He was just about to be-
gin sentence: The present laws gov
erning the island and regulating the
rights and privileges of it's people are
not Just, when over the rail of the
gallery. where sat party Of woman
suffrage leaders. there nuttered down
above the heads OF an amazed az
semblare Of Senator's and Representa-
tivcs slken banner of suffrage vel
low bearing in great black letters tho
Inscription:
president Wilson. what will you do
for woman suffrage:'
The suffragists said afterward i,
was their protest against the Prcsi-
dents plea with Congress for broader
laws for the men OF Porto Rico, while
he did not mention their own cause
| in his address
HAMMER IS QUICKLY
sNATCHED FROM IT'S PLACE,
AS the banner riDpled down, the suf-
| fraGists sat smiling and unperturbed
y page. raised on the arms Of men
directly under the gallery, grasped the
edge OF the banner and snatched Il
down. President Wilson, attracted by
the stir. looked up from his reading.
and apparently taking in the situation
at glance. smiled broadiy and with
out hesitation or interruption turned
his eyes back to his manuscript and
continued his address to its end with
out further demonstrations
Policemen and gallery guards sour
ried to where the women WEI. seated,
but contented themselves with watch
ing the party. as If to prevent a fur
ther outbreak "a
When the joint session was over thc
]
police. who said they had no orders
other than to prevent any further In
trinSement Of the rules OF the House.
The banner remained with the SER
geantat-arms
The women. evidently In possession
OF an advance copy OF the President..
address, had timed the document as to
the speed they expected he would read.
and anticipated he would reach the
i'orto Rico section IN eight minutes.
MISS Mabel Vernon, Of Nevada, who
-heckIed the President here at his
american Federation Of Labor speech
last July and who smuggled the ban.
hfr INTO the House gallery under hcr
coat to-day. kept time and gave the
signal FOR the unfurling OF the banner.
PRESS AGENT HANDS
OUT "CANNED" REPORTS
Before tho polio. could get to the
gallery. the surragists' press aren,
was busy handing out Canned" re-
ports of the affair replete in detail.
giving the names Of the militants and
Interviews with each.
The concensus OF their opinion was
summed up by Mrs. Abny Scott Baker
OF the congressional Union. who de-
ciared the incident was expressive OF
the Indignation that women feel at the
stupid and senseless opposition to
granting the right o. self government
to ne-half the peohe OF the United
States.
The ten women, who participated
IN the coup were Miss Vernon. pr.
Caroline J.. Spencer. of Colorado: Mrs.
Florence Rayard Hillcs, of Delaware;
Mrs. John Rodgers. OF New York: Mrs.
Anna l-owenburE. Of PENNSYLVANIA:
Mrs. Bessie H. f'apandrc and Miss
Maud Gilbert. OF California: Mrs w
l.. Colt. of New York Miss Lucy Burns.
OF the Congressional Union. and Mrs
fc"nsend Scott. of Maryland The
hrst hvc held the banner and the lat
ter hvc acted as guards. prepared TO
resist interference.
III was a most excellent dcmonstra-
ton. said Chairman Alice Paul. chair.
man "f the Cong reSSoual Union Ger
tainly we may in the future adopt va.
rlous methods not dissimilar to tho
one wc used to-day, to keep Congress
reminded OF our cause"
Aside from the suffrage incident. tho
demonstration OF welcome which
greeted the President was the feature
OF the joint session
BRYAN AND CABINET
IN RESERVED PLACES
William Jennings Bryan and most
OF the Cabinet. occupying reserved
places on the floor. led In the demon q
stration. which was prolonged and =
noisy. In the galleries Mrs. Wilson
and women Of the Cabinet joined In the
handclappns. In the diplomatic caf.
'eries representatives Of many OF the