Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-04
sUFFRAG|s7s END SIEGE
At WHITE HOUSE TO-DAY
After EncircIing Mansion, VIII Bring
Watch to Close, With Two-Hour
Silent Demonstration.
ELABORATE PLANS ABANDONED
Reproduction OF March Of IsraeIites
Around Jericho to Be Reproduced
Only In Modified Form-Scheduled
for 8 O'clock This Afternoon.
IBv a associated Press. !

WASHINGTON. Marcn 3.-Encircling
the White House with a chain OF
purple. white and gold. woman sur-
fraEists will bring to a climax to-
morrow. in two-hour silent demon
stration. their siege of President Will
son on behalf of a Federal suffrage
amendment.
About 1000 women, members of the
Congressional Union for Woman Suf-
frage and the National Women's Party,
recently merged. have enlisted to
lengthen for the final watch the line
OF pickcts on guard at the White House
gates for the last six weeks. enconl-
passing the Presidents comings and
goings to impress him in the last days
of his first term with their determina-
zion to have the ballot.
Only in modified form. however.
will the demonstration follow plans
that have been laid to reproduce the
march of the Israelitcs around Jericho
AT first il was proposed to circle the
White House seven times. with seven
priests carrying the suffrage arm, ant;
accompanied by "a long blast of the
rams horn the citadel signlfying to
the suffragists the stronghold OF op-
position to the cause OF suffrage by
Federal amendment.
REASONS FOR CHANGE
NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR
Why that method of attack was
abandoned has not been made entirely
clear by the womens leaders, some of
them explaining that the critical inter
national situation would make such
demonstration appear in bad taste.
and others limiting that some Of those
in the suffrage ranks thought it might
seem to border on the sacreligious
Still others say the more Ella bora G
scheme was aband oned because il was
considered no longer necessary. They
are optimistic that the walls OF the
Jericho they have besiegcd will
crumble soon beneath the gentler in
fiuence of silent methods But they
do not claim to have definite basi5 for
their hopes.
Outwardly. ut least. the President has
shown no Sign of waverinS in his OPP
position to Federal amendment and
his preference for suffrage by State
enactment. Daily he has smiled and
saluted the pickets always encountered,
rain or shine. when the presidential
car has left or entered the White
House grounds.
when bitter January winds tried the
courage of the guards. he sent them
an invitation to come inside. But 1t
except for the daily smile and salute,
OF his state of siege.
To-morrow's demonstration. the most
remarkable perhaps Of all those that
have chnrn ~ q erizeI 6phf fnr
suffrage, will be timed to begin at 3
o'clock y NJ, three hours after the
official beginning of the new pres
idential term.
Forming at the union headquarters
in nearby street. the line Will pro-
cecd past the east entrance of the
White House. encompass the semi
circular southern boundary OF the
grounds next to the ellipsc. pass up
the street between the White House
and State, War and Navy Building and
back to the east on Pennsylvania Ave-
nue.. halting when the ring has been
completed. For two hours then the
line is to be kept at attention.
MISS VIDA MiLHOLLAA
WILL. LEAD MARCH
Miss Vida MilhoiIand, of New York.
younger sister of Mrs. Inez Milhol-
land Boissevain, revered among the
suffragists as martyr to the cause.
viii lead the march. Behind her will
be borne the old banner heralding n
suffrage amendment carried for many
years In suffrage parades over the con-
tinent Then will come group OF
State delegations and. last of ALL. the
rank and tile of women, including law
yers, doctors. social leaders. nurses and
stenographers. who have volunteered
for suffrage.
SOUTHERN RAILWAY SYSTEM.