The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-08
MALONE QUITS. OFFICE
CONTINUED Prom 1tr1t rag.

pOnCy or the administrator, IN permit
ting 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 q denial even
: Of their constitutional right to petition
for and demand the passage Of the fed
era1 suffrage amendment. 1t therefore
now becomes my profound obligation
{ actively. to keep my promise to the
women Of the west.
I'm more tina twennty states 1t is a
practical impossiblltty to amend the
state constitution: the women Of these
states can only be enfranchiSed by the
passage of the federal suffage amend
j., ment. Since England and Russia in the
y midst OF the great war ave assured the
:" nattoal embarrassment OF their women.
should we not be jealous to maintain our
democratic leadership in the world by
!. speedy national acknowledgment Of Am
! erican women To me. Mr.. President.
! as I urged upon you in Washington two
months ago, this is not only a measure
: of justice and democracy. it 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 suf-
frage amendment Is only the first step
towards their national emancipation.
( But unless the government takes at least
{ this first step toward their enfranchise-
/! ment. how can the COVE .nent ask mil
lions Of American VIC IN educated IN
our schools and college,. and millions OF
!. American women in our homes. or toiling
for economic independence in every line
} of industry, to give up by CONSUMPTION
their men and happiness to a war Of
:, democracy in Europe, while these women
citizens are denied the right to vote on
= of
demands Of them such sacrifice?
y 'For this reason. many Of your ardent
striends and. supporters feel that the
passage of the federal suffrage amend
ment is a war measure which could ap-
propriately be urged by you at this ses-
sion Of congress. 1t Is true that amend
ment would have come from congress,
but the presetn congress shows on earn
est desire to enact this legislation for
the simple reason that you. as the lead
err of the party in power. have not yet
suggested it. For the whole country
5 Klady ACKNOWLEDGES. Mr.. President. that
! no vital piece OF legislation has come
& through congress these five years ex-
! cept by yorr extraordinary and billtant
: leadership.
II have not proved all the methods
: recently adopted by women in the pur-
! suit Of their political liberty; yet Mr..
President. the committee on suffrage OF
$the United States senate was formed in
1883 when was one year old; this same
federal suffrage amendment was first In
.tFoduced in congress in 1873; brave wo-
= men like Susan 3. Anthony were petit
$tfoninz congress for the suffrage before
; the civil war, and at the time' Of the
Civil war men like william Lloyd Gar
!: rison, Horace Greeley and Wendell Phil
lips assured the suffrage leaders that II
: they abandoned their fight for suffrage.
/. when the war was ended the men of the
hatfon out OF gratitude would cnfran-
chise the women of the country. And II
the men of this country had been peace
fully demanding for over half CEN
tury the political right or privilege 10
! vote and had been continuously ignored
or met with evasion by successive con-
1resses so have the women, you. MIR.
President, as lover Of liberty. would be
the first to comprehend and forgive thelf
Inevitable impotence and righteous IT.
dignation. VIII not this administration
reelected to power by the hope and
faith Of the women OF the West. hand
somely reward that faith by taking &C
ton now for the passage OF the 1eoeraA
suffrage amendment?
I'm the port OF New York during the
past four years. billions Of dollars In
the export and import trade OF the cocn-
try have been handled by the men OF
the customs service, their treatment OF
the travelling public has radically chang
ed. their vigilance supplied the evidence
for the Lpsitania note, the neutrality
was rigidly maintained. the great Ger
man fleet guarded. captured and re-
paired, substantial economies and re-
forms have been concluded. and my ar
dent industry has been given TO this
great office OF your appointment. But
now wish to leave these finished tasks.
to return to my profession OF the law
and to give all my leisure time to fight
as hard for the political freedom OF
women as 7 have always fought Tor
your liberal leadership.
ut seems a long seven years, Mr..
President, since first campaigned with
you when you were running Tor COVER
nor Of New Jersey. In every circum-
stance throughout those years have
served you with the most respectful .af-
lection and unshadowed devotion. It
Is no small sacrifice now for me. as q
member Of your administrator to severe
our political relationship. But I think
1T Is high time that men in this genera
ton at some cost to themselves stood
I'D TO battle for the national enfran-
chisement Of American women. So In
order to effectively to keep my promise
made in the west. and more freely to
20 into this larger field Of democratic
.frort I hereby resign my office as COL
lector Of the port Of New York. to take
effect at once, or at your earliest CON
renience.
Yours respectfully
Md EJc16 Malone