The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-14
VIRGINIA SUFf2AG|STS
IN CONVENTION JOIN
NATIONAL MOVEMENT
seventh, Annual Gathering Lays Out
Busy Program for Coming Years
flight TOR Ballot.
MASS MEETING CvERFLOwS
WHEN DIR. SHAW SPEAKS
Veteran of Long Campaign Tells of
Outlook In Country and Tells Hear
ers About Recent New York Vic
tory.

From the opening session held by
delegates yesterday morning until the
CLOSING OF great mass meeting held
in thu. Jefferson hotel auditorium last
night the address by DIR. Anna Howard
SnaN, suffrage by an amendment TO
the national constitution YVES the key
note OF the seventh annual conveu-
lion Of the Equal Suffrage League Of
Virginia
Nearly 100 representative women
were present from all parts OF the
state as delegates TO the convention.
Last night the auditorium could not
hold all who came to hear Dir Shaw
-trtf IhuUt tfr national movement and
the recent victory in New York.
Dir Shaw received gracious and
hearty welcome from the people OF
RIohtwrnd last night, suffragists and
non-suffragists alike. She paid espe-
etai tribute 10 President Wilson as the
rare kind Of a politician who makes a
: Pledge before election aud keeps Il
afterwards. further saying that Pgesi-
dent Wilson had done more for the
suffrage cause than all the presidents
who have ever occupied the White
House put together, The answering
loyalty Of the suffragists. DIR. Shasf
NJ I'd, lis new being given TO the presi-
dent and the government in its pres
eut crisis.
Speaking about the manner In which
New y ork women achieved the VIC
tory at the poLs kst week. Or, Shaw
fold Of the careful division OF the
state in as many districts and pre-
eincts az the political party divided IL
and the control over these by division
captains. Two thousand Ave hundred
women had been posted at the polls or
the final day so that no election frauds
could happen and at noon 2,500 new
women relieved the watchers Out
side, within 100 Yards OF the polls. two
women were stationed to plead with
The men as they came to vote
Demand for Federal Amendment.
The victory or the Empire state
state means for the womea's suffra ge
movement in this country, said DR.
Shaw, that tho demand for a federal
amendment is more likely to be real
lied In the near future
In. speaking about picketjng. which
some men take as ground for be-
lievng women should not have the
vote, Or. Shaw. said she believed tina,
these women are grossly mistaken
tina; there is no political sagacfty. no
political wisdom In this method; that
/, this was result OF Fankhurst train
ing, was the training of the English
conception OF government The re-
quest TO be treated as a political pri-
soner ia absurd said DR.. Shaw. Tor
we have no such thing in the United
States
The National Woman Suffrage
league has never. and never will ooun-
tenance picketing." announced DR.
Shaw.
DIR. shaw thought that this was no,
the proper method of getting the vote
certainly not the method OF persuad.
ing a man like President Wilson. Be
sides not being good tactics. good
sense. good ethics. 1t is not the pro.
per form OF appeal. unless one goes
after the kaiser with the big stick.
Telling just how suffragists are even
now assisting the country in this
struggle, DR.. Shaw said that IL she
, were to refuse to do here duty In
the present crisis. she would be q
ira itor to. women. a deserter to the
men in the trenches and to the com
mander in -dhief.
Criticises .Asquith.
DR. Shaw said that the conversion
OF Mr.. Asquith. premier of Great Bri
tain to the suffrage cause had made
her very angry, for while he had the
, ability to place the power of citizen
ship in the hands of women he did
not take advantage of it.
. 1T was only when he thought the,
had earned their freedom by working,
: In the munition factories. having
: proven their patriotism by the many
kinds of war service that women arr
' now doing. and not as the mothers o.
E race. He did not think she should have
the ballot because of the work sh'
{ had always done. to found the homes
; to establish Just ideals. educate chill
dren, to be great spiritual forces II
a church, tn be moral force In so
cety. is II more patriotic to do thu
things that need to be done In wal
! times than the things that have al
ways been done? 1t is these that hav'
/, proven the patriotism. the loyalty o
women. They have been patriotic II
s service before the war. II is simpl.
: that they are doing the things of to
J day according to the day as they dis
: the things that yesterday called then
I to do"
] women Aiding the Nation.. .
II Or. shaw gave a brief outline OF tn
' work of the women's committed. coun
) ell of national defense. OF which sh
8 has .been appointed chairman by tn
s<x~ru&tu.n<a -. Qtwfh rn1A