The sun., 1917-09-08
MALONEQ QUITS
$12,000P0ST TO
AID SUFFRAGE
Port Collector Resigns as
Protest Against Jailing
of Women Pickets.
FRANK WITH WILSON
Chides President for Not Ad.
vocating Federal Amend
ment-Will Work for 1t.

The suffrage pickets. harried by the
washington police. forbidden to display
their banners at the gates Of the White
House, Jailed at Occoquan. Va. with dis
orderly negro women. and denounced by
the nation. have now a knight to do bat
tie for them. a knight who cares enough
for their cause to give up $4,000 a
year job for its sake and for theirs.
Dudley Field Malone. Collector of the
Port Of New York, ardent supporter Of
dawned upon the political horizon, yes
terday sent to the President his resig-
nation "a collector.
His action is protest he says,
against the failure Of Mr.. Wilson TO ad-
vocate the passage OF the Federal suf-
frsge amendment. and against his per-
hitting the imprisonment OF the women
who picketed the White House. Also.
he tells the President. he wishes TO be
free to battle for the enfranch!sement Of
women. and thereby redeem the promises
he made when campaigning for the Demo-
cratic ticket last fall in the West. when
he assured the men and women of those
states that he would spend his energy to
get the Democrats to put through the
Susan &. Anthony amendment.
Collector Since 1913.
1T is high time" he says in his letter,
"thst men, at some cost to themselves,
stood up to battle for the national en-
franchisement of the women of Amer
ica" So he steps down from the office
which he assumed four years ago the
18th Of next November. on which date
John Purroy Mitchell left II to become
Mayor Of New York.
There are of course many rumors and
guesses that something besides suffrage
IL behind the resignation. But II Is
fact that when the sixteen prominent
women we're sentenced to sixty days at
occoQuan in July for picketing Dudley
Field Malone was one OF the hrst to rush
10 their rescue. He had what IL said to
have been a stormy interview with the
President. and Mrs. Abby Scott Baker.
member OF the executive committee Of
the National Woman's party. declared
the next day that he resigned then and
there, but out OF consideration for the
propr!eties withdrew the resignation un-
10 he could make It properly by letter
Going to Adirondack.
II was only after long heckling that
ne consented to take the press in his
confidence to the extent OF stating that
he would now Join his family in the
Adirondacks. Mr.. Malone married
daughter of Senator O'Gorman. Here
IL the letter:
"Dear Mr. President:
Last autumn. as the representative
OF your Administration. I went into the
woman suffrage States to urge your re-
election The most difficult argument
to meet among the 100000 women
E.,I ~ he n
cratic party throughout four years OF
power TO pass the Federal suffrage
amendment looking toward the enfran-
chisement Of all the women OF the
country.
"Throughout those States, and par
ticularly 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 the FederaI
suffrage amendment. because you and
your party through liberal leadership
were more likely nationally to enfran-
ehise the rest Of the women OF the
country than were your opponents. And
II the women OF the West voted to re-
elect you promised them would spend
AL my energy. at any sacr!f1ce to my
self, to get the present Democratic Ad-
minstration to pass the Fedora! suf-
mage amedment.
Constitutional Rights Denied.
But the present policy OF the Ad-
mnistration in permitting splendid
American women to be sent to Jail in
Washington. not for carrying offensive
banners nor for picketing. but on the
technical charge OF obstructing traffic.
Is denial even OF their constitutional
right to petition for and demand tho
passage OF the Federal suffrage amend
ment 1t therefore now becomes my
profound obligation actively to keep my
promise TO tho women Of tho West.
In more than twenty States it is
PRACTICAL impossibility to amend the
state Constitutions; so tho women of
those States can only be enfranchised
oy the passage Of tho Federal suffrage
amendment. Since England and Russia.
IN the midst Of tho great war. have as
sfed tho national enfranchisement Of
me!r women should we not be Jealous
70 maintain our democratic leadership
the world by the speedy national en-
nanchisement of American women?
TO me, Mr.. President, as l urged
upon you in Washington two months
go this is not only a measure of JUS
uce and democracy, 1t is also an urgent
war measure. The women of the nation
are and always will be loyal to the
country and the passage of the suffrage
amendment fs only the first step toward
thelr national emancipation.
But unless the Government takes at
ieast this first step toward their en-
frenchsement. how can the Government
ask millions OF American women, edu-
caied In our schools and colleges, and
millions OF American women in our
MONIES. or toiling for economic indepen-
dence in every line Of industry. to give
up BY conscription their men and hap
pinsss to war for democracy in Europe
while these women citissns are denied
tne right to vote on the policies Of the
oovsrnmsnt, which demands Of them
such sacrihce?
For this reason many Of your ardent
friends and supporters feel that the pas
sass OF the Federal suffrage amendment
ma war measure. which could appro-
pr'stely be urged by you at this session
1T " true that this amendment would
nave TO come from Congress. but the
present Congress shows no earnest de-
SIRE to enact this legislation for the
simple reason that you. an the leader
OF the party In power, have not yet
euegested It. For the whole country
eladly Acknowledges. Mr.. President. that
no vital piece Of legislation has come