The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-05-16
sPAReo URGES SUFFRAGE
Delivers Address to President Wilson
in Washinuton.


Washington. May 1G.--An infuen
tial delegation, composed Of repre-
sentatives OF all parties urged Presi
dent Wilson Monday to give his sup
port to the Susan 3. Anthony amend.
ment to the constitution, giving wo-
men equal political rights and priyi-
leges with Men. The delegation was
received by the president in the green
room. j. A. II. Hopkins, national
treasurer of the Progressive party
presided and introduced the members.
The principal address on behalf of the
delegates was made by John SpargO,
of Old Bennington, Vermont, after
which Miss Mabel Vernon, of the
Woman's party, Virgil Hinsbaw Of
the Prohibition party, and DR.. r. A.
Rumley, Editor of the Evening Mail
New York, republican, made brief
supplementary remarks. Mr.. Spargos
address held the close attention of
President Wilson, who several times
audibly expressed his approval of the
points made. In his reply TO the dele
cation, the president warmly con-
graduated Mr. Spargo upon the CO
gency and lucidity with which he had
stated the case for the equal suf-
fragists. He seemed to be especially
pleased by the speakers reference to
his belief in equal suffrage. Mr..
Spargo, said, in part;
Mr.. President: Ii is not necessary
for the delegation to Ngue the case
for equal suffrage here today You
do not need TO be convinced OF the
soundness and justice Of that princi
pie We are happy to remember al
ways that you are with US so far;
that you, too regard it as one of the
fundamental conditions of demo
cracy.
Our reason for coming here today is
our desire to urge upon your attention
the claims of the proposal to have
Congress submit an amendment to the
United States Constitution enfranchis-
ing women upon equal terms with
men, We have come. representatives.
of the liberals in all parties, to ask
you to lend your great influence TO
that proposal and to assure You that
we believe that it has the hearty sup
port of the forward-looking men and
women of all parties. As a Socialist,
! have come with this delegation
merely to furnish one link in the chain
of fundamental democratic evidence.
We would not add to the already
too heavy and too numerous burdens
which you must bear in these critical
times, Sir We would, indeed, as far
as lies in our power, tighten the load
And in this spirit we respectfully sub
nit Mr. President, that the struggle
we have undertaken to wage in order
that the world may be safe place for
democracy, will be all the easier to
wage, and the more certain OF speedy
success, if our own nation Is made tru-
ly democratic. Every undemocratic
and condition which we
permit to 90 unchallenged and unre-
formed must be a serious obstacle to
us in the war to establish democracy
the world.
We believe, all of us, Mr. President |
that you would have this great nation
attest her fidelity to democratic ideals
not only by force OF arms, by valor
on land and sea- but by Governing our
life by those ideals And I'M
til we do away with the antiquated |
and irrational disability of millions of |
women, and establish equality OF the
cexes in citizenship and suffrage, the |
shadow Of our undemocratic practice |
at home win cloud and darken the |
most splendid Of our struggles on
land or sea.
The great nations of Europe with
which we are allied in this war have |
discovered that women can and will
indeed must-bear vast burdens. !
They have found out that patriotism, |
fortitude, courage and daring are hui
man virtues shared equally by men
and women. not sex virtues possessed |
alone by men. Women have proved
as necessary as men to |
the national defense It was a great !
Mr.. President, a great mo- |
ment for democracy. when the Prime |
Minister of Great Britain, and the for
mer Prime Minister, acknowledged
that the women of that country had
earned the right to equality in citizen
snip Win ultH anu duillilttu tiit SAAp |
of denying that claim so long.
Our own experience will not be |
other than that of our great allies |
Mr. President The women of Ameri- |
ca will be called upon to bear many |
heavy and unfamiliar burdens, but
they will not fail or finch. They will |
prove as necessary to the struggle we
are making as the men who fight on
foreign shores or upon the perilous
deep. Surely, Sir, there is no need
to wait. to linger and later on make
tardy recognition of a right which is
as clear and as obvious now as it can
ever be.
We believe, Mr.. President that we
have a right at this time to appeal to
you, not merely as the leader of the
party in power, not merely as our
President, but as the foremost leader
and most influential spokesman OF the
great democratic nations of the world.
AS such. word from you to congress
in favor of this amendment would ring
bn nntfona upcCqup