Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-08
Will Enter Campaign
for the Passage of
Federal Suffrage
Amendment
WOULD MAKE IT
WAR MEASURE
Tells President Wilson He Could
Appropriately Urge Federal
Amendment at This Session
of Congress s-Doesn't APP
prove All Methods Adopted
by Women in Pursuit Of Their
Political Liberty

Washington, Sept. dudley Field
Malone customs collector at Nav York
rendered his resignation to President
Wilson today in protest against the
failure Of the President to advocate
passage of the federal suffrage amend
ment and because he permitted the
Imprisonment of women who have
been picketing the White House.
Defended MIitants
Mr.. Malone who as counsel defended
the first of the milltants arraigned in
police court here told the President
in his letter Of resignation that in
asmuch as he had promised the
women of the suffrage states that he
would exert all his energy to have
the national Democratic administra-
ton endorse suffrage by constitutional
amendment he felt obliged to resign
and devote himself to redeeming that
premise
In quitting the Office Of collector Of
the port Of New York, Mr. Malone
leaves one of the best paid places in
the government service. He is a SON
in-law or former Senator O'Gorman,
His letter Of resignation follows:
Letter Of Resignation
Dear Mr. President:
Last Autumn, as the representa-
tive Of your administration I went in
10 the woman suffrage states to urge
Your reelection. The most difficult
argument to meet among the 1000 600
women voters was the failure of the
Democratic party, throughout four
years Cf Lower, to pass the federal
suffrage amendment looking toward
the enfranchsement Of all the women
of the country. Throughout those
states, and particularly in California
which ultimately decided the election
hv the votes Of the women. the wo-
men voters were urged to support
YOU. even though Judge Hughes mad
already declared for the fedora SUI
frage amendment because YOU and
Your party through liberal leadership,
were more likely nationally to enfran-
chise the rest Of tho women of the
country than We're Your opponents.
And if the women of the West voted
to re-elect you | promised them l
would spend all my energy at any
sacrifice to myself to get the present
Democratic administration TO pass the
federal suffrage amendment. But the
present policy of the administration
in normitting splendid American wom-
er to he sent to Jail in Washington
not for carrying offensive banners nov
for 1icketing. but on the technical
charge Of ohstructing traits IS 4 de-
NAL even IF their constitutional right
70 petition for and demand the pas
sage of the federal suffrage amendment
II therefore now becomes by pro-
found obligation actively 70 keen my
promise to the women Of the West.
impossible in Twenty States
In more than 20 states it is a practical
impossibility TO amend the state constitu-
tons so the women Of those states can
only oe enfranchsed by the passage of
the federal Suffrage amendment. Since
England and Russia in the midst of the
great war have assured the national en-
franchisement of their women. should we
not be jealous to maintain our democrat
ic leadership in the world by the speedy
national Acknowledgement OF American
women To me, Mr.. President, as urs-
ed upon you in Washington two moths
ago. this is not only 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
Continued on Page 2-col. y