The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-01-10
WILSON
SMILES AT
PICKETS
Suffragists Begin "Mild
Militant" System Around
White House
(Ry Associated Press.l

4
Washington, Jan. 10.--Woman suf-
| fragists today began their silent
picketing" of the White House. Twelve
women from the Congressional Union
| for Woman Suffrage appeared at the
two main gates Of the White House
grounds carrying suffrage banners in
scribed: "Mr. President, what will you
do for woman suffrage?'
White House police stood smilingly
by as the women took their posts on
| the sidewalk just outside the en-
frances. Each wore white, purple
and yellow sash across Cne shoulder.
They stood at attention, three on a
side Of each Of the main gates. Their
banners could be read for more than
a block.
The announced purpose of the pick
citing is to make it impossible for
President Wilson to enter or leave the
White House without being confront
ed with reminders of the suffrage
cause.
Just before the pickets appeared,
the president went out to golf. On his
return to the White House from the
links. he smiled as his automobile
passed through a gate f1anked by
silent sentinels." .s. .-..'
what the White House authorities
will do about the pickets the suf-
ment. After the women had their au-
dience today they returned to the
headquarters of the congressional un-
ion, formed their new plans and held
a meeting pledging $4,000 for the ISL
lent sentinel campaign.
Headed by Miss Maud Younger and
Sarah Bard Field 300 suffragists from
the president, ostensibly to present
memorials on the death Of Mrs. Inez
Milholland Boissevain. Because Of
the affair in the house gallery in De-
cember there was some difficulty in
arranging the audience but the presi-
dent consented to receive the women.
When they made it the occasion to
renew their pleas that he support the
suffrage amendment the president ex-
pressed his surprise, reminded the
spokesman Of the party that he had
not been apprised Of their full purpose
and was not prepared to say any more
than he had on previous occasions.
He repeated that he believed person
ally in their cause but as the leader
Of his party could not commit it to
action it had not endorsed. The presi-
dent added he could not understand
why women failed to realize that the
Democratic party had done more for
suffrage than the Republicans.
II had not been apprised that you
were coming here to make any repre-
sentations or would issue an appeal
to me-" said the president. ST had
been told that you were coming to
present memorial resolutions with re-
gard to the very remarkable woman
whom your cause has lost /. there
fore, am not prepared to say anything
further than I have said on previous
occasions Of this sort.
II do not need to tell you where my
own convictions and my own personal
purpose lie and need not tell you by
what circumscriptions am bound as
the leader Of party. AS the leader
Of a party, my commands come from
the party and not from private person
al convictions MY personal action as
source but my own convictions, and,
therefore, my position has been so fire.
quently defined and I hope so candidly
defined and it is so impossible for me
ed to do anything other than I am do
ing as a party leader that think moth
ing more is necessary to be said.
how DO yso5 to t4s to DO aSs sss
from the utterances of the
last campaign that the Demo-
cratic party is more inclined
than the party to assist IN
ter of surprise to me and a matter of
very deep regret that SO many of those
who were heart and soul for this cause
seemed so greatly to misunderstood
and misinterpret the attitude of parties.
Because, in this country, as in every
other self-governing country, it is only
through the instrumentality Of parties
that things can be accomplished. They
are not accomplished by the individual
voice, but by concerted action and that
action must come only so fast as you
can concert it. I have done my best
and shall continue to do my best to
concert it in the interest OF a cause in
which personally believe"