New-York tribune., 1917-12-18
They Unite in Belief Action
Presages Victory for An
thony Amendment
Faith Grows Stronger
Bugaboo of States Rights
Looked Upon as
Exploded
By James Arthur Seavey

amendment IN the House TINS after
noon. The very general opinion among
the yotes-for-women is that the pass-
age OF the one presaees the passage Of
the other. The whips Of the Republi-
can and Democratic parties in Con-
gress may talk about polls that indi-
cate the defeat Of the suffrage amend
ment, but the ladies will have none Of
the talk. And they have reason for the
faith that is in them.
1t is pretty generally admitted by
those who have played politics with
them that the leaders OF the Anti-Sa-
loon League are past masters at the
game. The suTragists allese that the
women have done much wheel-horse
work for the prohibition amendment.
The Anti-Saloon Leaguers know it, and,
according to the suffragists, tho
leaguers are willing TO pay the debt
that many acknowledge they owe. Miss
Alice Paul, chairman Of the National
Woman's Party, claims support for the
suffrage amendment in other organized
quarters besides the Anti-Saloon
League. She says that her organiza-
tion has made q direct appeal to the
Changers and to labor organizations,
and that the result is most encourag-
ing. Miss Paul added:
Bugaboo Is Exploded
In the House lobby this afternoon /
met one Of the Ant-Saloon League
leaders. He told me how much he ap-
preciated the work that women had
done for the prohibition amendment,
and that the women would see that ap-
probation crystalliZed in the hardest
kind Of work for the suffrage amend
ment from now until the time the
amendment comes up. OF course, We
are all greatly encouraged by the pas
sage of the prohibition amendment.
The bugaboo Of states rights has been
exploded, and it is difficult 20 under
stand how n member of either house
of Congress could have voted for the
prohibition amendment and refuse 20
vote for the suffrage amendment"
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, president
of the National American Woman Suf-
frage Association, was also in a most
cheerful frame of mind. "The action
Of the House to-day" she said, "is all
most a sure indication that the suf-
frage amendment will pass. But we
are not relying on indications. Our
canvass shows that a number of the
members Of both houses who all along
have been opposed 10 the suffrage
amendment have changed their minds
and will vote for IT, | have fully eT-
pected the amendment to pass. but
since the vote on the prohibition
amendment this afternoon | am con
yinced that the suffrage amendment
will have a larger vote in its favor IN
the House than the prohibition amend
ment had. and that it viii easily carry
in the Senate"
Rosalie Loew Whitney, the youngest
woman ever admitted to the bar OF the
State Of New York, the wife OF Travis
II. Whitney. Public Service Commits
sioner for the lst District and Con-
gressional chairman for New York City
of the Woman Suffrage party, was IN
the lobby of the press gallery OF the
House while the vote was being taken.
Mr.. Whitney. who insists that his wife
is the only politician in the family,
was elsewhere, but Somewhere in
'
heard the result of the vote she was
quite unable to disguise her satisfac-
ton. In fact, she made no effort 10
do so.
"Why the exceeding jubilation?' !
asked. ADO you believe that suffrage
is going the way prohibition has ~
"Most assuredly | do. Suffrage has
helped prohibition in its hour Of need,
and now prohibition must and viii help
suffrage. But irrespective Of to-day's
vote, confidently expect the woman
suffrage amendment to pass by com
Portable majority"
"A more serious consideration is that
the states rights doctrine was involved
in vain on the prohibition amendment
and cannot. therefore, in good faith
be urged against the suffrage amend
ment Nor can il be SAID that prohibi-
tion is entitled to more consideration
than suffrage, because there are TWEEN
ty-scven prohibition states and only
twelve states and Alaska that have full
woman suffrage. Furthermore, il must
be remembered that the New York
victory has added an electorate exceed
ing that Of several states. I'm my can
vas Of the situation / find that the fact
that conservative New York has de-
clared for suffrage had made a deep
impression on many Congressman from
other states.
Part of World Battle
at fas forced them to realize that
woman suffrage, OF verify, is part of
big world movement. part of the
worlds battle for democracy. As for
the votes Of the twenty-five Congress-
men from the City Of New York and
twenty-one from the rest of the state.
have reason to believe that q major
ity of them viii be found lined up on
our side Of the fence. OF course, /
have Il right 10 speak only for the New
York City men. How they will vote is
the particular concern of my commit
tee. | do not care TO speak about them
in detail, because | believe ! know how
every one will vote. There may be
some changes. but TODAY ] believe
every one of the New York City Con-
gress delegation will vote for the suf-
tragc amendment"
Il is sure that Walter F.. Chandler,
representing the 18th New York Dis
trict will not only vote for the suffrage
amendment. but he will speak for IL.
Representative Chandler. in one of his
finest fights Of Congressional oratory.
was arguing Tor all he was worth
against the prohibition amendment. lie
was interrupted by Representative Lit
tie. Of Kansas, and several others, who
wanted TO know if he was also going TO
vote against woman suffrage. and he
declared that they could all bet their
last dollar that he would vote for suf-
frage.
The leaders of the Anti-Saloon League
arc very cagey in what they say for
publication regarding the attitude the
organization will take toward the suf-
farge amendment. | found none Of
them who was willing TO be quoted. but
the substance of what most of them
said was this:
If it had been left to the votes OF
lhn tt.nrnnn nf fhn IInitnI Ctufns u.n