The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-28
WHITE HOUSE POCKETS
BECOMING NUISANCE
Mira Carrie Chapman Catt, President
OF National Suffrage Association,
Protests to Chief Pickc3er.
ARE ANNOYING CONGRESS
Suaragists' Attempt to Create Suf-
frage Committee In Congress VIII
Fail Unless Pickets Are Removed.
Congressman Declare.

Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait. presi-
dent OF the National American wo.
man Suffrage association, has sent an
open letter to Miss Alice Paul. chair
man of the National Woman's party,
calling upon the latter In the interests
OF the suffrage cause to remove the
pickets from the White House and
the Capitol. Recent events have dem.
onstrated beyond dispute, Mrs. Gait
declares, that the picketing is harmful
to the suffrage movement. The Ma
tional Suffrage association, which ID
the nationwide federation of state
wide leagues. totaling 100000 men,
beers. IL, and always has been. opposed
to the picketing. The picketing policy
is carried on only by the National
Woman's party. formerly called the
Congressional union, which is an en-
tirely separate organization.
The National American Woman
Suffrage association feels deeply the
injustice Of charging against the
cause as whole what is disapproved
in the conduct OF q small group Of its
advocates" writes Mrs. Gait The
picketing she characterizes as IAN un-
warranted discourtesy to the presi-
dent. and a futile annoyance to mem
bers of congress"
Mrs. Cats protest is called forth
at this time by the recent statement
of Representative Harrison, Of Mis-
sfssippi. member Of the rules COM
mittee. The National Suffrage as
ISOLATION. of which Mrs. Gait is presi-
a suffrage committee in the house
This organization secured the co-oper.
alton of Speaker Clark and President
Wilson. at Mrs Cats request, wrote
Chairman Pou, of the rules commit
tee, stating that he. considers the
creation Of such a committee desir
able at this session. The committee
granted a hearing on the subject last
Friday. Immediately after the hear
ing. Representative Harrison an
nounced that he would never vote to
create q suffrage committee in the
house so long as any suffrage organ
the congressional buildings. He stated
that the other members of the COM
mittee stood with him on this.
Mrs Oatt's Letter.
Mrs. Cats letter to Miss Paul reads
as follows:
Washington. D. c.. May %, 1917.
Miss Alice Paul.
Chairman National woman's Party.
Washington. d. c.
Ny Dear Miss Paul: / write you
because l believe 1t TO be my duty.
as president of the National Ameri
can Woman Suffrage association and
spokesman for its two million men,
bers,zs to urge the national women's
rarty--the Congressional union--to
withdraw its pickets stationed at the
White House and Capitol. ask this in
behalf Of the great cause for which
all suffragists are working
The National Woman Suffrage as
ISOLATION. as you know. has always
disagreed with your .anti- party-in-
power" policy. and has considered the
picketinE an unwarranted discourtesy
to the president and futile annoy
ance TO the members OF congress
But whatever the difference Of opin-
ion on these points has been in the
past. there Is now clear proof that
tho presence of the pickets is hurting
our cause in congress.
q The fules cemnaittees has before IT
a resolution for the creation OF a.
standing committee on woman suf-
frage in the house. The National
Woman Suffrage associa-,
ton has been working for this reso-i
luton and has obtained the co-opera-'
ton OF Speaker Clark and state
ment from President Wilson that ne
considers the creation of such COM
mittee desirable at this session. We
believe that the securing Of this piece
of machinery would materially ad-
vance the suffrage amendment in the
house, and the presence OF your
speakers at the recent hearing before
the rules committee indicates that
you are OF the same opinion.
Representative Harrison. member
Of this committee, although he has
expressed himself as not opposed to
the creation OF suffrage committee,
has nevertheless issued a statement
declaring that he will never vote for
Il SO long as any suffrage orEanixa-
lion continues the practice OF picket
ing the White House and the congress
sionai buildings. This IL = specific in
stance of feeling which 10 known
10 be shared by representatives of
both parties On -ths- rules committee
The National American Woman Suf-
Irage association feels deeply the in
Justice Of charging against the cause
- . whole what Ia disapproved in the
conduct Of a small group of the ad
vocates Of that cause. But the fact
remains that the picketing has aroused
serious antAgonism. For the sake of
The political freedom OF women. and
our hope OF success In this country in
the near future. urge you. as head
81 your organization. to make our
progress easier by removing your
Iility in the minds OF people who would
movement.
Very truly yours.
(Signedl CARRIE CHAPMAN GAIT.
President