Putnam patriot., 1917-09-07
Personal Views On Picketing By Miss
Anna {. Levitt, President Putnam Equal
Franchise League
Mr.. kditor Dear Sir


Mr.. kditor, Dear Sir.
| have been asked recently .of what
value picketing at the White House Is
toward the enfranchisment of women
OF this country during war time, and
may / herewith express my views.
Whether the policy of the National
Woman's Party to picket the White
House, holding banners which tell only
the truth, and quote the presidents
own words from his pre- election
speeches and his book the SKEW Free
dom, is winning policy or not, time
will tell
The fact remains however, that since
the creation of the Woman's Party,
presidential suffrage has been granted
in n number of Eastern states and full
suffrage in number of states of the
West. We also know that the Presi
dent himself, who has elung TO the
ancient myth OF state rights. ON the
suffrage question, though not on pro-
hibition, has certainly repudialed all
ideas of state rights during the last
four months. So this picketing policy
was adopted in order To do exactly
what il has done--attract attention To
the cause which the president, con-
gress and the majority of the voters
would like to forget, aud give 1t pub
licity.
The Senate Suffrage committee, ap.
pointed by the president, authorized
its chairman, Mr.. Jenes,of New Mex
leo on May 10, to report the federal
suffrage amendment favorably to the
senate. Every member voted for an
immediate favorable report. Nearly
four months have gone by and the re-
port has not been made. A similar
report from the House Judiciary ,som-
mittee has also been made and held
up.
The question II the President of the
United States ordered the SENATE Com
mittee on Woman Suffrage to hold up
its report In order TO block the persist
ent campaign of the National Wo-
mans party, confronted the Senate
two weeks ago when Senator Gummins
OF Iowa moved to discharge the suf-
fruge committee from further duty
which would automatically put the
suffrage measure on the calendar Of
the senate.
These are some of the real things
happening in Washington MS well as
the resolution presented by Represent.
alive Baer of North Dakota asking
that the House OF Representatives APP
point d committee TO look into the mat
and sailors attacking women in their
full rights of petition. There Is no law
against holding a bannerIat the gates
of the White House. The charge
brought by the District police against
the suiiragists is the technical charge
of constructing traffic
All our human and material re-
sources will be needed to carry this ma
ton successfully through this war.
The administration has stated that
millions of women will be needed To
replace men in industry. The burden
of sacrifice, OF work, OF taxation, OF de.
priyation incurred by this nation In
"making the world safe for democ
racy,p will have 10 be borne by women
deprived of democracy ut home.
What farce democracy has become.
Uncle Sam sending his sons five
thousand miles abroad 10 die for de.
mocracy, and at the same time send
ing his daughters Ito Jail for bearing
banners that ask for this democracy.
Laurels and praise for the sons-kicks
and jeers for the daughters!
Women are determined TO go on
asking, and every effort of the govern
ment to suppress them is carrying
their message all the nearer TO The
people of this country and we shall
continue TO slight for the things
which we have AWAY carried
nearest our hearts-democracy for
the right OF those who submit TO
authority TO have voice in their own
government"
Anna &. Levitt.
Putnam, Conn, sept. 6, 1917.