Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-27
Executive Declines Courteous
Iy to Reply to Queries Of
Mrs. Mary Beard.
TELLS WOMEN STATES
SHOULD SETTLE QUESTION
In Addressing Clergymen, Mr.. Will
son Tells of Efforts to Maintain
Peace by This Country.

! NEW YORK. January 27.-
President Wilson refused today
to support the movement for an
amendment to the federal Consti-
tuition providing for woman suf-
frage. He spoke briefly to 200
members OF the Congressional
Union for Woman Suffrage. and
told them that he felt the suffrage
question should be dealt with by
each individual state.
The President received the suffra gists
after they had waited for him more
than an hour at the Waldorf-Astoria
Hotel. which he made his headquarters
on his arrival here this morning from
washington prepared to make three
! addresses during the day.
| Efforts made by Mrs. Mary Beard,
| wife of a Columbia University profess
sor, to cross-examine the President on
his position met with failure He re-
| fused courteously to reply to her que
| ries.
The President apologized to the wom
| en- for not seeing them earlier. but
| told them he had been at work since
| arriving in New York. He added that
1T may be that my mind works slow
| ly. but ] have always thought that
there were things which should be
built slowly and therefore made more
lasting. I may be little old in fash
ion in my view that the suffrage ques
tion should be handled by the state
The President frankly admitted to
the sufra gettes that he had promised
several months ago to discuss with the
tion, but that other matters Of legis-
lation had come up which he thought
should take preference over everything
else.
Some Things Cannot Wait.
There are things that cannot wait"
| said the President. action in great
constitutional matters must be DELHI
crate
President Wilson again promised that
he would discuss the subject with mem
bers Of Congress as soon as possible
He declared, however. that he was still
convinced that the suffrage issue should
be worked out by the states. He added
that he saw no reason for the women
to be discouraged by the progress being
made.
The President went to the parIor en-
gagged by the suffragettes and was
greeted with warm applause as he en-
tered He shook hands with Mrs. Amos
Pinchot, Mrs. Henry Bruere. Mrs. Rob-
ert Adamson and several other leaders.
Portions of Address Applauded.
Deep silence greeted his reiteration
address were marked by applause.
Mrs. Tiffany Dyer. Mrs. Bruere and
Mrs. Beard spoke before the President.
They asked that while he was working
out his preparedness program he should
remember that no scheme Of defense
would be adequate which did not in
clude the mobilization of women. While
speaking in the middle west for ma
tional defense they asked that he also
advocate woman suffrage. The Presi-
dent reminded the women that he had
voted for suffrage in New Jersey and
promised that If the question came to
vote there again he would again vote
for it,
AS the President completed his ad-
dress several women shook hands with
him and he returned to his apartment
Prayers for the President.
The President delivered the first Of
his three addresses at noon before the
clerical conference of the New York
Federation of Churches. representing
all denominations. Amid hearty ap-
plause he was introduced by the Rev
DIR. S. Edward Young of BROOKLYN.
who remarked that mo other President
ever had such universal prayer in mis-
behalf"
only Lincoln bore such heavy re-
sponsibility." said the clergyman. and
the America of I.incolns time held but
one-third as many people to pray and
nearly half were arrayed against him"
Rev. William b. Martin. in deliver
ing an Invocation, said that as the rep
| resentative of Cardinal Farley he could
say that the Catholic Church was sup
porting every possible movement for
peace He praised the President for
keeping the United States out of war,
as did the Rev. Nehemiah Boynton
who. in an address of welcome, said:
We simply want to put ourselves by
your side as you enter upon your work
of being the spokesman for permanent
peace for America and the world"
American People for Peace.
The President said he appreciated the
words of the speaker from the heart"
He declared that in his efforts for peace
he had represented the spirit of the
United States of America. He said he
knew that in their hearts the people of
II
balance even.
II can find no basis for peace but
Justice" he added. THE greatest force
in this world is character. and ! be-
ueye that character can be expressed
by the acts of a nation This is ex-
pressed by the attitude of the people.
America has always stood for the
doctrine that every nation has the
right to decide it's own future. That is
Americas only desire.
h.
erty interfered with.
any sentiment of aggression. Our pas
sion is for liberty.
Depends on Races and Creeds.
"A further foundation of peace is our
internal attitude toward each other
We have been hosDitable to all creeds
and people The peace of America
depends upon the attitude of the diff
ferent races and creeds which make up
the nation ! have been much perturbed
oyAr evidences of religious feelings in
this country. Live anS let live is a
homely expression. but 1t expresses
what our attitude should be.
II always accept an invitation to a
tight, but ! hope I conduct my fight
with justice and fairness.
Peace does not mean inactivity.
After all. peace dwells in the hearts
of the people.
Peace is Inconsistent with the Civ
Continued ON Second Fas..J