New Britain herald., 1917-10-26
PRESIDENT URGES
STATES TO START
Tells Woman SudragistS That SUI
frage Is Fundamental Question

Washington, Oct. 2e.-President
Wilson yesterday made notable
speech in favor Of woman suffrage,
giving it full Endorsement as an issue
in every state. He REDEEMED his po-
sition on this subject in stronger
rnanntr than on other occasions, re-
plying to the request Of representa-
tives Of the New York state woman
suffrage party for support in the cam
paign there for an amendment Of the
constitution to give the ballot to wom-
en-. He asserted this war was forcing
fundamental questions to the front for
solution and classed woman suffrage
ss one OF the fundamentals.
- More than fifty officers and work
ers for suffrage in New York state
journeyed to Washington in special
cars and were received by the presi-
4dent in the White House at 2 o'clock.
Mrs. Norman de r. Whitehouse,
fchairman Of the New York state
woman suffrage party, BRIEFLY pre-
sented the purpose of their visit. In
sreply, the president said, speaking
with great solemnity. which deeply
Impressed those who heard him:
Mrs. Whitehouse and ladies':
1T is with great pleasure that re-
bceive you. ] esteem 1t a privilege to
ldo so. know the difficulties which
you have been laboring under in New
York state, so clearly set forth by Mrs.
III $Ah hHp+ tn lid ont
those difficulties cannot be used as an
excuse by the leaders Of any party
Tor by the voters Of any party for neg-
Meeting the question which you are
pressing upon them. Because, after
yall, the whole world 1t witnessing a
lstruggle between two ideals of gov
Y 'ernment. It Is a struggle which goes
deeper and touches more OF the foun-
dations of the organized life of men
than any struggle that has ever taken
place before, and no settlement of the
questions that lie on the surface can
satisfy a situation which requires that
the questions which lie underneath
and at the foundation should also be
+ settled and settled right. I am free
to say that I think the question OF
woman suffrage is one of those Ques-
tons which lie at the foundation.
1.-THE world has witnessed a slow
political reconstruction, and men have
generally been obliged to be satisfied
with the slowness of the process. In
q sense it is wholesome that it should
be slow because then it is solid and
sure. But 1 believe that this war Is
going so to quicken the convictions
and the consciousness of mankind
with regard to political questions that
4 the speed of reconstruction will be
greatly increased. And I believe that
Just because we are quickened by the
questions of this war we ought to be
quickened to give this question of
woman suffrage our immediate con-
sideration.
LAS one of the spokesman of a
great party, I would be doing nothing
less than obeying the mandates of
that party if I gave my hearty sup
port to the question of woman suf-
frage which you represent, but I do
V not want to speak merely as one Of
the spokesman of party. I want to
speak for myself, and say that il
seems to me that this is the time for
the States Of this Union to take this
action. I perhaps may be touched q
little too much by the traditions OF
our politics, traditions which lay such
questions almost entirely upon the
States, but I want to see communi
ties declare themselves quickened a
this time and show the consequence.
of the quickening.
IT think the whole country has ap
preciated the way in which the womel
have risen to this great occasion. The
not only have done what they hav
been asked to do, and done it witt
ardor and efficiency, but they hav
shown a power to organize for dom
things of their own initiative, whic,
Is quite a different thing, and a yer
much more difficult thing. and thin
the whole country has admired tn
spirit and the capacity and the wis
dom of the women of the Unite
States.
cit is almost absurd to say that tn
country depends upon the women fo
a large part of the inspiration of i,
life. That is too obvious to say; bu
1t is now depending upon the wome
also for suggestions Of service, Whlc
have been rendered in abundance an
with the distinction of originality.
therefore, am very glad to add m
voice to those which are urging tF
people of the great state of New Yor
to set a great example by voting fe
woman suffrage. It would be plea:
ure If I might utter that advice
their presence. Inasmuch as I al
bound too close to my duties here
make that possible, I am glad to HAY
the privilege to ask you to deliver tn
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