Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-08
Malone Quits Office
as Collector Of Ports
to Fight for SUI jfrage
Resigns In rotest Against
President Permitting
Arrest of Wom-
en- Militants
IBy Associated Press {,


WASHINGTON. September 7.-Dud-
Icy Field Malone, customs collector at
New York, rendered his resignation to
President Wilson to-day in protest
against the failure of the President to
advocate passage of the Federal suf-
trage amendment and because he per-
united the imprisonment OF women
who have been picketinG the White
House.
Mr.. Malone. who, as counsel, de-
Tended tho first Of the militants ar
raigned in Police Court here, told the
President in his letter of resignation
that, inasmuch as he had promised the
women of the suffrage States that he
would exert all his energy to have
tho national Democratic administration
indorse suffrage by constitutional
amendment he felt obliged to res
and devote himself to redeeming that
promise.
ONE OF BEsT-PAID PLACES
IN FEDERAL SERVICE
In quitting the office OF collector at
New York. Mr.. Malone leaves one of
the best-paid places In the government
service. He Is a son-in-law Of former
Senator O'Gorman. His letter OF resig-
nation said, in part:
Last autumn. as the representative
Of your administration, I went into the
woman suffrage States to urge your
reelection. The most difficult argu-
mcnt to meet among tho 10000
women voters was ths failure of the
Democratic party. throughout four
years Of power, to pass the Federal
suffrage amendment looking toward the
enfranchisement Of all the women Of
the country. Throughout those States,
and particularly in California, which
ultimately decided the election by the
votes OF women. the women voters
were urged to support you. even though
Judge Hughes had already declared for
tho Federal suffrage amendment. be-
cause you and your party, through
liberal leadership. were more likely
nationally to enfranchise the rest OF
the women of the country than were
your opponents. And II the women of
the West voted to re-elect you. I
promised them that would spend
all my energy. at any sacrifice to my
self. to get the present Democratic
administration to pass the Federal
suffrage amendment. But the present
policy OF the administration, in per-
mitting splendid American women to
be sent to jail in Washington, not for
carrying offensive banners nor for
picketinE. but on the technical charge
OF obstructing traffic. is n denial even
of their constitutional right for peti-
tion for and demand the passage OF
the Federal suffrage amendment. 1t
therefore now becomes my profound
obligation actively to keep my prom
ise to the women of tho West"
DISCUSSES HISTORY
OF SUFFRAGE FIGHT
The latter then goes into a lengthy
discussion of the history of the fight
for equal suffrage. in which the writer
urged the enfranchisemcnt OF Amerl-
can women not only as a measure of
justice and democracy. but as an
urgent war measure. He concludes:
$50, In order effectively TO keen nv
promise made in the West, and moro
freely to go into this larger field of
democratic effort. I hereby resign my
office as collector OF the port Of New
York. to take effect at once, or at
your earliest convenience"