The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-07-03
THE PICKET AND THE PUBLIC.
Woman Suffrage Association Deplores
White House Episode

The National American Woman Suf-
frage association, comprising the great
body of organized suffragists the coun-
try over, deplores as absurd. ill-timed,
and susceptible of grave and democrat
ling suspicion, the tactics of the $50
lated handful of suffragists at the ma
tional capital who think to advance the
| cause of suffrage by demonstrations
like the recent banner episodes at the
White House.
| Is that plain?
The National American Woman Suf |
/ frage association likewise deplores as
unfair and wasteful the reiterated de
mands upon it from friend and foe of
suffrage alike to 'repudiate, . de
nounce, state its position on the sub
ject. 1t can, apparently, repudiate
and denounce and state its position till
the crack Of doom and still be left at
the mercy of clamorers for more de
nunciations and more regulations.
These clamorers, particularly those who
are suffragists, could be about a bigger
business than such footless insistence
Concerned as it is with a great con
structive, forwardlooking, forward
leaping program for furthering the suf-
frage cause, the National Woman Suf
frage association deplores having its
time, energies and attention constantly
DETECTED to offset the effects Of public
itv tactics with which it is not and
never has been in sympathy and which
it has emphatically condemned and
7 never cOndoned
Is that plain?
And now
/ The National American Woman Suf-
taa4I .r,
that it is not blind, if the clamorers are,
|. to the fact that every time it comedies
), to the clamor it is but playing the pub
q LEFTY game into the hands of the small
/ group Of suffragists to whose campaign
: publicity is fundamental.
For where agitation is the watch
! word publicity IS the achievement.
IS Can it not be understood once and
for all, by suffragists, by press, and by
general public, that the White House
tactics Of the picketers are but detail
of a publicity campaign which suffra
gists and press and general public i'm
J, measurcablv further by the attention
T which they center upon il (Thc lady
S from Missouri who tore down the pick
It cts banner built up the pickets public
II ity as no picket and no banner coulc
! have done.l
= Not all such publicity aids are hostil'
: in their animus. There is no question
= that men are encouraging the small
y group that is committed to picket tao
le ties. As groWn-ups encourage a fro
u ward child whose antics are plaguin,
re other grownnps so do men of other
II wise discriminative intelligence encour
q, age the banner bearers
And despite an increasingly fine bal
ance Of judgment on the part Of editor
and reporters, there is no question tina
t. the attitude of part of the press
an encouragement From the viewpoin
Of news a DEFY to the President Of tn
United States. even Haunted on a pref
40 " little purple and gold banner.
X highly available ''front-page stuff
35 and there is the gavest and friendlies
So Of understandings between many new
go men and the banner-bearers.
10 While we are placing the blam
10 therefore, let us divide it fairly an
As squarelv-none at all TO the suffras
90 cause. none to the organized sutfragis
81 who resent having that cause, draw
into such fracases-and one part Of II
picketS who incite these Fuctions. on
- part to the press that spreads the ST
70 ~ in the way most calculated to NAL
- q prolonged sensation Of it, and OF
=. part to the public that thrills human
- over its own shocks.
~ 1t is fact that there remains
- America one man who has known G
20 actIy the right attitude to take al
4V maintain toward the pickets. \ whil
steal smile, slightly puckered at Il
50 roots by sense Of the ridiculous i
~ lite bow-and for the rest a compile
OF ignoring of their existence. He ha
.07 pens 70 he the man around whom &
.06 little whirlwind whirls, the Preside
80 Of the United States.
100 The National American Woman ST.
80 frage association respectfully urges t
}.75 rest Of the country to take examl
- from mm IN ITS emotional reaction
10 the picket question: Woman c
90 izen of June 30