The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-25
RUSHTON EXPLAINS
 VOTE ON SUFFRAGE
Thinks It a Matter for the
 States to Decide
WAS POLITICAL TRICK
Played by Westerners for Women's Votes-Does Not Think It Expedient and Says It Satisfied Nobody.
 Willing to Be Convinced

Montgomery. June 4-(Special.)-Ray Rushton, delegate-at-large to the demo- cratic convention at St. Louis, today is- sued a statement explaining his vote on the suffrage plank of the platform It will be remembered that minority re- port was presented calling for the ignor- ing of the suffrage issue. President Wilson however, had urged that the plank adopted be approved. MT Rushton explains why he voted for the report of the minority committee.
 MT. Rushton gives as his reason his belief that it was purely a matter for the states to decide. He termed 1t a piece of cheap politics played by west erners for the feminine vote and declared by implication that more had been lost by the democrats than was gained by the incorporation of such a plank.
 MT. Rushton explains as follows:
 ITO the Democrats of Alabama: The convention at St. Louis is over. Wilson and Marshall were nominated, the plat form adopted and I, like all good demo- crats will now do everything in my power for democratic success in Novem- Der. It is no time to criticize what was done there. What I did was from sim cere conviction, and while I have no crit icism of others I have no apologies to make, and would prefer no controversy. But lest silence might be misconstrued, I desire to state that my vote for the minority report on the suffrage plank was cast as I wished it cast and if it J1 oi,,T r ct 10 same way.
 q heard every word that Senator Stone said, as well as what Senator Newlands and Senator Walsh said. I also heard what Governor Ferguson said in his speech and I conversed with him some what at length. No one claimed that 1t was any part of MT. Wilson's policies to adopt this plank. After Senator Stone said that the plank was so worded that it didn't mean anything and would not be binding on any democrat, the conven- ton would have then voted it out by two to one Senator Newlands' speech was not convincing. Senator Walsh pac- flied a majority of the convention by saying that Mr. Wilson knew the word- ing of the plank in the majority report and it had his approval.
 'NOn6 or tnlS Ldlk COnNlICeu IllS tIidt the national convention had any jurisdic- ton of a question which was wisely left to the states by the framers of the con- stitution. It appeared to me little cheap politics on the part of politicians from western states to get the votes of women who have been given the fran chise. Its adoption did not satisfy the women and I doubt if it satisfied any body. It being conceded that it was not binding on any democrat in any states, fail to see that it amounts to anything one way or the other.
 'In this connection I desire to say that I am open to conviction on almost any subject. I would desire above all things that every woman in Alabama should have a home of her own and that she should be queen in that home, and when ever am convinced that giving her the ballot will contribute to that end, I will vote for it. But at present I do not see any good that can come of the agitation of the question in Alabama and l shall not be party to recommending it to the democrats of this any other state.
 T have the highest regard for Presi- dent Wilson's sincerity and the utmost faith in his judgment Every democrat conceded that the had a perfect right to go to New Jersey and vote in a state election for woman's suffrage. I will never believe, until he says so in his own words, that he would deprive any demo- crat in Alabama of the like privilege of voting against it in any state cleo tion.'