The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-05-19

4
of the Rules Committee, following
the hearing yesterday on the resolu-
ton to establish a Committee on
Woman Suffrage, made the following
declaration:
/ shall never vote to create q
special committee on woman suf-
frage as long as any suffrage or
Eanization continues the practice
OF picketing the White House and
the Congressional office buildings.
And that wasn't the only thing. A
Republican member Of the commit
tee, evidently protesting against the
same senseless business, was told by
one of those responsible for the
picketing that they had been advised
to pursue that course by a Republi-
can member Of Congress. She was
met with the rather brutal retort,
"Then he was a fool" This
serves to make the sentiment on
both sides of the House unanimous
on the subject of picketing with the
possible exception Of the qualified
Congressional adviser to the Wom-
ans Party.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Harrison does
not make the proper discrimination
and to that extent he was unjust
The National Suffrage Association,
of which Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait
is president, with its two million
members, is not to blame for the
peculiar methods Of the Congress
sional Union, which lately changed
its name TO the Woman's Party. The
Union seeded from the National As
sociation because the Association
would not countenance its methods.
It was the Congressional Union that
adopted the policy Of making war
upon the Democratic party and upon
all Democratic candidates, however
devoted friends Of equal suffrage
they might be. It might be supposed
that the Republicans would favor the
Congressional Union because Of this
policy But the cold fact remains
that in 1914 Democratic Congress
sional gains were mostly from the
States where the Union appeared as
a sort Of Republican annex, and IN
the elections of 1916 President Viii
son carried all the suffrage States
save two, despite, or perhaps because
of. the Endorsement of Mr.. Hughes by
the Congressional Union. So the
Republicans do not seem to care for
an ally that only helps them to de-
feat.
In the matter Of the appointment
of the Woman Suffrage Committee
IN the House, it was the National
Association and not the Woman's
Party that has been pressing for
this perfection Of machinery at this
session, that has been organizing its
friends in the House. that asked the
President for his Endorsement Of the
plan and received it, and that ar
ranged for the hearing. II was not
their fault that the Woman's Party
butted in. if SO unladylike an express
sion can be used, and received their
merited rebuke. Nor should the
cause be COMPOUNDED with the inane
methods of its foolish advocates.
However, we do not expect any re-
form in methods because of the
known injury to the cause. Appar-
emily there are not enough large
minded women in control of the So
called Woman's Party to confess
that these methods are wrong. They
would rather see the cause defeated
than acknowledge their mistake.
They have gained a certain bizarre
by their ability to insult
the President and offend Congress
with impunity and this notoriety is
evidently more precious TO them than
the success Of their cause. Accord
ing to their own statements, they
have given up work in the States
10 center their energies upon Con-
Zress, and here they are apparently
new enemies for their cause
faster than the logic Of events or the
wise craftsmanship of the real suf-
rage organization can make it
friends. Whatever advance that
,ause may receive in either House at
his session will be in spite of the