The Washington times., 1917-05-28
LETTERS TO TIMES
FROM ITS READERS
Communications on Timely
Topics Of Interest.
ANNE MARTIN ANSWERS TIMES
Replies to Recent Editorial on SUI
frage Activities.

The editorial in The Times Of May
10 referring to the National Womans
Party contains some inaccuracies
which II is only fair to correct You
describe the Congressional Union
now the National woman's Party, as
sort of Republican annex" and
state that Mr.. Hughes was Endorsed
by the Congressional Union.
Neither the Congressional Union
nor the National WomAn's Party ever
Endorsed Mr.. Hughes. Both the Con-
gressional Union and the National
woman's Party are non-partisan or
CARNATIONS. Our election policy as
adopted at the Colorado Springs con-
ference in August OF last year was
a policy of opposition to the party
in power because OF its blocking, for
three and a half years, of the national
suffrage amendment. The labor group
would have inevitably opposed the
party in power IL that party had
obstructed at every turn measures
necessary for the welfare of labor.
As women voters with political
power we could do no less for the
political freedom of all the women
in this country. Our speakers, in &C
coroance with our non-partisan
policy, said from every platform:
vote for whom you please, Hughes,
or Benson, or Hanley, all of whom
stand for the national suffrage
amendments vote against that party
and the national candidates OF that
party who, having the power to pass,
have blocked the national suffrage
amendment at every turn"
As to the Republican national de-
feat: The Woman's Party campaign
ed in only the twelve suffrage States,
which elected ninety-one members of
the Electoral college. II is conceded
by political leaders OF both parties
that Oregon with five electoral votes
and Illinois with Twenty-Five cleo
toral votes were carried against the
national Democratic party, by this
campaign, in a close election, where
those thirty-four electoral votes came
within one State OF being the bal
ance Of power and the deciding fac
tor in the Presidency. The political
power of women was visualized and
made a concrete fact in our political
life. and will never again be under
estimated by political leaders. The
/
new States and Gprimary election suf-
frage in Arkansas since the election
is undoubtedly in large part due to
the fact that the political power Of
Western women was visualized to the
country by that election: that East
ern women must have the vote to
prevent Eastern men from being gov
erned by Western women.
Now as to the wisdom of working
for a Woman Suffrage Committee,
which The Times editorial considers
an unquestionably statesmanlike pro
ceedinE. Miss Alice Paul, as chair
man OF the Congressional committee
Of the National American Woman
Suffrage Association, in 1918 advised
| that association to secure the crea-
tion OF a Woman Suffrage Committee
in the House. The national associa-
| ton adopted her suggestion and
sent speakers to appear before the
hearing of the Rules Committee in
December, 1918, urging the creation
of a Woman Suffrage Committee.
This hearing was arranged by Miss
Paul. 1t took place at the beginning
Of President Wilson's Administration.
at the beginning OF the work done
under the leadership OF Miss Paul
and Miss Burns. which revitalized the
| SUSAN %. AhAHOhg anu
made Il a national political issue in
the last campaign. Nineteen hundred
and thirteen was a most strategic
time to begin work for such
A committee, at the beginning of this
work OF rehabilitation.
The request for the creation OF a
Woman Suffrage Committee was de-
feated by the Rules Committee by
a tie vote in January, 1914. Through
| 1914, 1915. and 1915 all efforts to Sc
cure a report OF the Susan r. An
thony amendment were accordingly
| concentrated on the Judiciary Com.
mittee, which has all woman suf-
fraRe amendments in charge in the
absence Of a separate committee.
| we began our work in the Sixty.
ffth Congress with the Susan r. An.
thony amendment a national political
| issue with the mind of the President
| incIInIng more and more TO national
action. with England and Russia TAX
ing steps 20 enfranchise their women
/ in time OF war in recognition Of their
| Indisnensabie services, and the neces,
sIty Of unifying and solidifyinE the
nation at a time of national crisis.
! The purpose OF the speakers of the
woman's PARTY in appearing before
the Rules Committee on Thursday was
l to state that Wnile luN importance Oh
the subject justified the creation OF a
Woman Suffrage Committee, such &C,
ton could not be accepted at this time
as a substitute for a report OF the
Amendment by the judiciary Commit.
tee TO the House. The power that
could secure a Suffrage Committee
could also secure a favorable report
from the judiciary Committee, and
the passage of the amendment We,
therefore, urged before the Rules Com
mittee the passage OF the amendment
in this session by means Of the ma.
chInery already existing and we in no
way accepted the "perfectinE OF ma.
chinery" in place OF our objective. the
passage of the amendment
As to our right TO take part in this
public hearing, which you question:
The chairman of the committee, Rep,
resentative Pou. courteously ar
ranged to give the National Woman
/ Party the same amount of time given
to any other organization, that our de
sire for the passage OF the amend
ment. in this session OF Congress be
means OF any machinery, as an emer.
Kency measure, might be presented.
ANNE MARTIN,
Chairman Legislative Committee.
SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL SING.
Impressive ceremonies will he held