New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-23

voters second, Will uOlhiH@Ce wv fV''N'
of the New York State Woman Suffrage
PARTY for the coming year. The TWO
purposes seesawed back and forth all
dav through the deliberations Of the
sufrragists in the closing session yes
terday of their annual convention at
the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Now it was a suffrage reconstruc-
ton unit TO be sent to France that oc-
cupied the attention Of the women;
now il was letters TO be written to
congressman the very minute the del
ogates get back home, urging them TO
support the Federal amendment; now
it was a new campaign 10 sell Liberty
Loan stamps; now it was ways and
means of opening schools of citizen
ship for women, and now an invitation
TO the anti-suffragists and to other
women, never before interested in pub
lie affairs, to join hands with the suf-
fragists in making the women voters
of New York a credit TO the state. But
always the loyalty issue was foremost.
Mrs. Norman de r. Whitehouse again
showed her fighting spirit by her reply
before the convention TO anti-sufrage
criticism of the 100000 campaign
fund.
Criticises Senator WadswOrth
Mrs. Whitehouse was the leader in
rallying the suffrage forces last spring,
after war was declared. by insisting
that they carry on two campaigns in
stead of onc-One for war work and
one for suffrage. She saw no reason
for not doing both then, and she saw
none yesterday. Moreover. being in
"spunky" mood, she pointed out that
senator James Wadsworth, jr., who
campaigned against suffrage on the
ground of Miss jeanette Rankin's vote
against war, resigned his military COM
mission when war seemed imminent,
because. in his judgment, his political
service as Senator was OF greater I'M
portance 10 the state
"A morning paper complains that
we spent 100000 on our campaign,
when the Belgians and Servians were
starving" she said, "but at no time
have | seen any criticism in that paper
of the Sl,300,000 fund of the Fusion
campaign committee. Our fund was
spread out over two years. Theirs was
spent in six weeks. We won and they
lost.
ave can afford" she went on, "to
discount criticism by our enemies.
They haven't disappeared, even though
they lost, but their criticisms in the
main are not such as to regulate our
actions. As Mrs. Gait reminded US
yesterday. in the past we had to regard
these criticisms with awe. because they
meant the loss of votes. wow this
criticism comes from men who are
afraid OF losing our votes.
First Duty TO Serve Country
"They scold US because we want to
use our votes for the Federal amend
ment. Our first duty, Of course, is to
serve our country. as we have done
and are keen and eager TO do. We
don't have 70 vote every minute OF our
lives We can serve our country Loyalty
and constantly and use our vote at
the same time for our sisters in other
states"
This speech not only answered the
anti-suffragists. but also took the
punch out of Miss Mary Garrett Hays
plan to make patriotism versus the
Federal amendment the issue in con-
test of strength between Mrs. White
house and herself. Miss Hays skill
as a strategist. moreover, enabled her
to win her point without making an
open fight.
She did not oppose the policy Of
campaigning against Congressman who
oppose the Federal amendment. She
merely moved an amendment to which
no one could possibly object. This
was that "we wish it understood that
we do not put loyalty to the Federal
amendment ahead Of loyalty to our
country"
In the election Of officers Mrs.
Whitehouse received 1879 Of the 146
votes cast. This gave her admirers an
opportunity 70 bring out again the gold
wreath which was presented TO her at
the dinner at the Hotel Bltmore the
night before. Just as Mrs. Joseph
Griswold Dcane announced the cleo
tion Mrs James Lees Laidlaw placed
the wreath on the chairman's head.
Mrs. Whitehouse snatched II of and
Jumped 70 her feet blushing furiOusly.
1--WE had our beautiful frolic last
night" she said. This is a business
session
The wreath is exactly like one made
a few years ago for Miss Ellen Terry
and is the tribute Of the sufragists
who worked with Mrs. Whitehouse dur
ing the campaign.
"'To the victor belongs the crown"
explained Mrs. James Erskine Neale,
"only We don't call this a crown
Crowns are topping all over the world
these days, and we don't want Vera's
crown ever 20 topple."
Mrs. Vhitehouse, turning her back
on her poor crown, made her accept
ance speech.
when we won the suffrage victory"
she said, 81 had such faith in the prin-
ciple Of democracy that ! thought our
work was done. ! did not feel the call
70 enter into the educational work as
many OF the women did. ! thought de-
mocracy could be left 10 take care Of
itself without the direction Of a great
state organization; that is, that local
groups Of women could be depended
upon 20 solve their own problems
There seems 20 be, however, a great
demand for carrying on an educational
campaign, and 20 ! am again glad %
work with you ALL"
The entire state board as elected now
Is: Mrs. Norman de Z. Whitehouse,
chairman; Mrs. James Lees Laidlaw,
Mrs. William X. Belknap and Mrs. +. j.
Tone, epresidents; Mrs. Ogden
Reid. treasurer; Miss Alice Morgan
wright recording secretary; Mrs.
Charles Noel Edge, corresponding sec
rotary, and Mrs. Raymond Brown. Mrs.
Arthur LivermOre. Miss Mary Dreier
and Miss Lillian HuFcut, Of Bingham
ton.
Plan TO Change Name Defeated
Miss Harriet May Mills moved 10
change the name o. the association %