The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-06
THE PRESIDENT SMILES

But now a great, green limousine was turning in the driveway, followed by an open car filled with men. I looked up full in the eyes of the nations chief. Such grave, lined face-and then, sud- denly the golf cap was raised in grace ful salutation, the face broke into a sud- den. cherry smile, and the President of the United States had passed by.
 At Il o'clock four fresh pickets came to each gate, and the line marched back to Cameron House. The President goes in and out between 10 and Il o'clock in the morning. and between 4 and o'clock in the afternoon. At those hours there was always long line of women, from % to 100 at each gate. But the rest of the day, two or four sentinels stood at each gate. For seven weeks this con- tinued, entirely volunteer, a fresh shift every hour. or, in bitter cold weather every half hour, and in that time women from 31 states, from every walk in life, had helped in this dramatic demand for suffrage for women. They said it was impossible, that women would tire of it, that they never could keep it up-and yet from the 10th of January until the 4th of March, every hour from 10 in the morning until in the afternoon, pickets at the White House gates were relieved by fresh pickets, who came, with high held banners from that teeming head quarters across the square. The first time I picketed it was a joyous lark The second time l began to think of the long, long years that this same demand had been made-and the third time the third time there arose in me hot rebel lion that women should have to go on and on and on and on, giving precious energy, vitality, ability to secure this measure of simple of justice. Such a stupid, and such a heartbreaking waste!
 "WHY DO THEY PICKETT"
 why did the women picket?' people have asked me since I came to Alabama. To really understand you must know the long, long years of struggle, and in par ticular the last four when the demand for suffrage has grown as few political movements have ever grown, and when Congress, the President and the national party conventions have all been made aware of the demand for suffrage now. And you must know how we have been thWarted in Congress, our measure buried in committee and subcommittee rushed to vote when the leaders admitted it would be defeated. caucused against by the party in power, so that the hands of good suffragists were tied and they could not vote for suffrage. You must know the + different reasons the President has given for not supporting suffrage in Congress where his support would mean victory. You must realize that this IS government by party, and that no legislation can pass Congress without the support of the party in power, and that the present party in power will not make any measure their measure without the word from their great leader, President Wilson. And you must realize that the only way to inform the public about a political situation is through the news papers, and to have the newspapers tell about it, must make it news. And so for seven weeks women stood silently at the gate of the White House and focused the attention of the nation upon the fact that nationwide suffrage for women is in the hands of the President. What he did for child labor and federal good roads and the Panama canal tolls and conscription, he can do for suffrage at any time It was simple question that We asked but it was necessary that the nation should know that there is just one person who can answer it. When the great leader of the nation speaks, it will be answered. MT. President, how long must women wait for liberty?'