The Washington times., 1917-04-04
Ethel NJ. smith Explains Distinction
Between National woman's Party
and American Woman Suffrage
Association.

Association.
To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
The letter published in Sundays
Times from Miss Jeanie Gould Lin
coin indicates a mistaken impression
on her part which 1 have reason to
believe Is shared by other people as
we'll. Therefore, knowing the situa-
tIon intimately as i do. i shall st.
tempt to make things clear.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait is presi-
dent of the National American Wo-
man Suffrage Association, an organ
ization of 1000. 900 women composing
Statewide suffrage associations all
over the country. The national asso-
citation seeks to pass the Federal wo-
man suffrage amendment by means
Of a strictly non-partisan policy,
soliciting the necessary two-thirds
vote in Congress from members of
any and all parties. We believe in
this policy because no one party con-
trolls two-thirds of the votes IN Con-
gress, and in all human probability
never will. Consequently, where the
national association takes part in
elections, IL does so only by oppos-
ing candidates who are anti-suffrag-
lists, and 1t opposes them on this
ground irrespective of their party
affiliations.
The National woman's Party, OF
which Miss Alice Paul Is chairman,
is the Congressional Union for Wo-
man Suffrage under the new name
which IL adopted a few weeks ago,
to the confusion OF the public and
the consequent regret OF many suf-
fragists. 1t follows the English mill
tant policy Of trying to depose the
party In power and thereby compel
a two-thirds vote in Congress for the
Federal amendment. In pursuance of
this policy IL sent organizers to the
Western equal suffrage States to cam
paign against President Wilson and
all Democratic candidates in the cleo
tiOn last November-although these
candidates were all suffragists-and
was also responsible, I understand,
for the Golden Special train which
took women speakers into the Western
States to campaign for Mr.. Hughes.
Just before inauguration day this
year the Congressional Union and its
adherents from the West held a con-
vention' in Washington as a climax
to the White House picketing which
lHty anu AT tnat time
they reorganized under the name of
the National Woman's Party,
Shortly before this convention was
held Mrs. Gait had called a meeting
of the executive council Of the Ma
tional Woman Suffrage Association.
which issued a declaration of support
to the President and offered the SER
vices of the organization to the Gov
ernment in the event of war. Miss
Paul's organization went on record as
declining to take any part in the in
ternational crisis.
Suffragists all wish to be recop-
nized as working for the one great
end OF political freedom for women
And they all recognize that each is
working conscientiously according TO
the means which she believes 10 he
the most effective and the most bere-
ficial to the whole woman's NOV
ment. The National Woman Suffrage
Association, however, believes thai
since there is so sharp a division Of
opinion as to policies and tactics
these differences should be made cleo
to the public. Miss Paul and tho NJ
tional Woman's Party hav, no cor
nection whatever with Mrs. Cat, and
the National Woman Suffrage Assn-
citation. ETHEL NJ. SMITH