Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1917-11-24
WOMEN DENOUNcE
SUFFRAGE PACIFISM
Draft A Platform Charging Pra-Ger-
man Effort For The Federal
Amendment.


An aggressive attitude against wom-
an suffrage. feminism. and socialism
was taken by the National Association
Opposed TO Woman Suffrage at Wash
ington in adopting a new national
platform The Association put itself
on record as stoutly opposed to what
it characterized as pro-German- -paci-
fist effort TO put through the proposed
suffrage amendment to the Constitu-
ton.
The opponents Of woman suffrage
declared themselves for man-power
in government control They affirmed
that ~the oath Of members Of Con-
gress to uphold and defend the consti-
tuition OF the United States against all
foreign and domestic enemies morally
and truly applies TO the present Con-
stitutior and TO the proposed Federal
Suffrage Amendment
Mrs. James w. Wadsworth. wife Of
United States Senator Wadsworth,
presided at the conference. at which
twenty-five States were represented.
The new platform adopted by the
Association. copy OF which IS 10 be
sent to President Wilson. sets forth:
That in the recent election in New
York State woman suffrage was car
rIed by the increased pro-German, pa
cifist. and Socialist vote cast in New
York City.
That the suffrage victory in New
York has caused suffragist, Socialists,
and pacifists to demand the immediate
passage of the Federal Suffrage
amendment
That the present Constitution OF the
United States and the Constitutions Of
the several States and the national
platform of both great parties ''recog-
nize the right of each State to settle
this question for itself"
That the passage OF the proposed
Federal amendment would encourage
all pro-Gerinans, pacifists, and Social
lists OF both sexes in their demands for
a national referendum ON the war.
That such referendum could lead
only to a division OF public opinion
and become an instrument for the en-
couragement OF resistance to the Sc
lective draft and to army discipline.
That the Federal suffrage amend
ment Is undemocratic and unjust, a
destruction of the right of self-gov-
ernment and would tremendously in
crease racial problems and all other
problems OF American democracy.
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the oath adminis-
tered 10 all members of Congress and
officers of the United States Govern
ment ito uphold and defend the Con-
stitution OF the United States against
all foreign and domestic enemies, .
morally and truly applies to the pres
ent Constitution and to the proposed
Federal Suffrage Amendment, and
That the Association, in harmony
with its past principles. and present
ideals adopt and take appropriate ac-
tion to defend the following national
platform:
The National Association Opposed to
Woman Suffrage stands
For home and national defense
against woman suffrage, feminisEi,
and socialism.
For man-power in government, be-
lieving that democracy must be strong
to be safe.
For the preservation of the estab-
lished foundations OF the American
Republic as a model for the world
For the enforcement of the Consti-
tutional rights of each State to settle
the question of woman suffrage for
itself.
For efficiency and progress. with
out waste and duplication in govern
ment.
For the conservation OF the best
womanhood of all conditions and sta
tions Of life.
For the ultimate union of women OF
all classes and ereeds along nom
partisan lines, so that the interests OF
womanhood, childhood. and civiliza-
ton may be advanced free from the
strife ard division OF politics, factions
and parties.
For the retention of the best ideals
of the past, adapted to the advant-
ages end opportunities given TO
women under modern conditions, so
that the fundamental principles of
morality, of patriotism, and OF world
progress may be moro firmly estab-
lished in the present and future
generations.