Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-24
Leader of State Suffrage Organization Foresees
Noble, Quick and Efficient Response by Women
of PENNSYLVANIA, Whether Militants or Not

WASHINGTON. u. G.. Feb. 2i.-Mrs, J.
O. Miller first vice president of the Penn
sylvania Woman Suffrage Association, here
to attend an emergency meeting of the eX-
ecutive council of the National Woman
Suffrage Association, called to consider what
suffragists shall do as an organization in
event of hostilties, outlined the position Of
Pennsylvania suffragists.
Among other things, Mrs. Miller said she
would present TO the council several protests
made by suffrage associations and organiza-
tions affiliated with them in the eastern
section of the state which object to specific
offers of aid being made to the State or Gov
ernment by suffragsts organizations
Thus far, however, this suffrage leader said
the protestants are few, but strong, vigor-
Gus and direct in their protests
There seems to be some misunderstand-
ing" Mrs, Miller said. concerning the ac-
ton already taken by our State board This
was no more or less than action similar to
that taken by other organizations patriotic
in their membership, whether such mem
bership is composed of men or women our
offer in substance was to uphold our Gov
ernor and our President in event or war
We believe or rather, majority or our
membership believes, that the President VIII
do all possible to maintain peace ana IL
peace Is not maintained most or the mem
bers of our organization, l think, VIII be-
Iieye that il could not be; and that what
ayar docs transpire at the direction of the
President will be after all has been weighed
and in case of a declaration of war it VIII
he made because such action cannot longer
be stayed.
"Suffragists certainly, are not crying FOR
war We as women, as citizens, do not
want war IL the President can prevent 1t.
"But. too, our organization is like others
I'm that our membership includes persons Of
varied leanings concerning all anairs save
suffrage, We are banded together for one
purpose-the securing of the franchise for
women--and i'm that are as one. Upon the
other hand we have pacifsts in goodly
numbers persons who abhor any war; as
all of us abhor useless and needless war.
We have, too, others. militarists, whom
nothing, or hardly anything. could sway
from a belief in thorough preparedness. We
have some who demand war, | suppose.
Just as there are in every organization
numbering thousands.
when the wave of preparedness spread
over the country we, as an organization
took no sides, but were satisfied to continue
preparing our children. our homes and our
selves, believing, above all else, that suf-
frage for women would prepare us for any
eventuality more than any other one thing.
I'VE still believe this, but If war Is de-
clared who can doubt that our organization
will do all It can to serve our country as
well as our homes-certainly in serving one
we serve the other. For this reason the
executive board of our state organization
voted TO uphold the President, as doubtless
the national suffrage council will also. We
intend to present fully at the national
council all the protests we have received.
and they will be weighed and considered
carefully. but we are of the opinion that
those who protest now do so. only because
they fear preliminary offers will arouse
feeling for war. We do not desire to arouse
such a feeling, but we do desire to have
the President and the Governor know that
in event of war the suffragists of this
State will respond Just as noby, just as