New-York tribune., 1916-07-11
# Mr.. Hughes Doesn't
Speak Out Boldly SutfS
Threaten a Bolt.
THEY SEE NO HOPE
IF DEMOCRATS WIN
Amendment of State Constitu-
,ionS Declared To Be Too
Slow and Cumbersome.

Washington. July lO.-The Progress
ewes may pc reinforced by the Ma
torai Voman's party, according to
Vrs Abby Scott Baker. Of the Con-
.ress.onal Union, in a statement mailed
~. tonight. unless Mr.. Hughes shall
mt himself on record in favor Of the
susan B. Anthony amepdment
aUnless 10 IS favorable" said Mrs.
Paker. in commenting on the expected
vprhcs statement, "the Woman's Party
70 doubt viii run an independent ticket
~ ic,r with the Progressives and some
other minor party, as protest"
A golden opportunity" Mrs. Baker
declared. awaits the Republican party
- s.t~sc. 90 itself large part of the
vomcr's vote by making clear cut
,ssee cf thc cnfranchiscment Of Amer
.,s~ women. The Democratic plank,
+. IS declared. amounts TO a virtual
ser,s' ot suffrage" President Wilson
bss interpreted the plank. Mrs. Baker
saws. cas- meaning the amendment one
Nv one OF the state constitutions.
Present Plan Cumbersome.
Ms. Baker charges that the Demo
cratic psr,y plank method Of securing
suffrage state by state is practically
,-rossib.c." because Of the difficulties
Of amending many state constitutions.
IN comm rtine on this she said the
state method is slow. cumbersome, and,
~ mans states. hopeless.
A s.a.- constitutional amendment
usually urst be passed by two-thirds
vote Of 'hc Legislature, sometimes
twice over. and then must be sub
miuei .o a referendum Of the male
voters o. the state. In thirteen states
two successive Legislatures must first
vote fayorably on the amendment In
Only one state, Delaware. can suffrage
be granted 20 women without rrst
beng submitted 20 the voters.
"The Republican party cannot Sc
eu-e the votes Of the 100000 women
o. -fo West merely by default said
Ms Baker. ut cannot win those
much needed ballots simply on the as
SUMPTION that all the women who re-
fuse % vote the Democratic ticket IN
consequence viii vote the Republican
ticket
The women arc not playing that
snd u politics. They have one plank
and only one on which they insist:
itat the national enfranchisement
O. women.
Figures for previous presidential
years u tae suffrage states show how
small q margin in most cases would
have changed the balance. So it Is Of
vita Importance for the political party
,ha. 81 hes 90 win 10 have the help OF
this great new factor in national cleo
,.ors 1.-The Noman's party.
New Woman Secretary.
Tie Confessional committee Of the
National American Woman Suffrage
Association has been increased 10 nine
members 1y the addition OF Miss Kuth
White. or Kansas City. IL was an
nou-ced to-day. Miss White viii act
as .ece-ary to- the committee.
Miss White has a record OF unusual
and effective activity, especially for so
young q woman. As a member Of the
eommiss.or named by Mayor JOst Of
Ksrsas Cty for the relief Of the un-
employed 0lr.rg the winter of l9l4-l5
Miss Wrs-e was one Of the six
women who established large munici-
pal sewing room. municipal sales
room and employment bureau. As a
director of the Industrial Department
O. the C-.d's Welfare Exhibit she ac-
comp.shcd results which attracted
VIDE attention IN the philanthropic
world and were held by "The Survey"
20 be models of their kind. Previous to
her work on the Mayors commission
Miss White investigated the wages and
working conditions Of the women
workers rf Kansas City