The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-12
MALONE RESIGNS JOB,
QUITS COLLECTORSIIIP BECAUSE
MILITANTS WE'RE JAILED.
Says Women Reelected President Az
ter He Had Promised to Use His In
fiucnce for Suffrage.

washington. Sept. 7.-Dudley Field
Malone, customs collector at New
York. rendered his resignation to
President Wilson today in protest
against the failure of the president to
advocate passage Of the federal sur
frage amendment and because he per.
mitted the Imprisonment of women
who have been picketing the White
House.
Mr.. Malone, who as counsel de-
tended the first of the militants ar.
raigned In police court here, tod the
president in his letter of resignation
that In as much as he had promise d
the women Of the suffrage States that
he would exert all his energy to have
the national democratic administra,
ton indorse suffrage by constitution
al amendment, he felt obliged to re-
sign and devote himself to redeemin;
that promise.
In quitting the Office of collector OF
the port Of New York Mr. Malone
leaves one of the best paid positions
in the government service. He is !:
son-in-law Of Former Senator O'Gor-
man. His letter of resignation, afte.
reviewing his campaign in the su.-
frage States last fall, said:
And If the women Of the West
voted to reelect you I promised them
l would spend all my energy, at any
sacrifice to myself. to get the proscn,
democratic administration to pass tho
federal suffrage amendment. But tn
present policy of the administration
In permitting splendid American wo
men to be sent to Jail in Washington
not Tor carrying offensive banners no.
FOR picketing, but on the technica
charge Of obstructing traffic, is a do
NAL even of their constitutional riphI
to petition and demand the passay
OF the federal suffrage amendment. i
therefore becomes my profound obi
cation actively to keep my promise to
the women Of the West.
"Ip more than 20 States it is prac
tical impossibility to amend the state
constitutions. SO the women of those
States can only be enfranchised by tho
passage Of the federal suffrage
anne ndment. Since England and Rus
sia In the midst of the great war have
assured the national enfranchisemen,
of their women. should we not be
jealous to maintain our democratic
leadership in the world by the speedy
national acknowledgements Of AmerI.
'cn women? To me, Mr.. President, as
l 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 O!
he nation are/and always will be 10y
n, to the country and the passage OF
the suffrage amendment is only the
first step towards Their national cman
cipation.
But unless the government takes
at least this first step towards heir
enfranchisement. how can the -oy-
crnment ask millions Of American wo
men educated in our schools and COL
ieges and millions of American wo-
men In our homes or tOiling for the
economic independence in every lin
or industry. to give up by conscrip-
ton their men and happiness to a war
Tor democracy in Europe. while thes
women citizens are denied the right to
vote on the principles which demand
Of them such sacrifices?
For this reason many Of your most
ardent friends and supporters feel
that the passage of tho federal suf
frage amendment is war measure
which could appropriatelybe urged by
you at this session of congress.
1t will hearten the mothers of the na-
tion, eliminate a Just grievance and
turn the devoted energies of brilliant
women to more hearty support Of
the government in this crisis"
turning to his work as collector OF
the port, Mr. Malone continued:
'but now l wish to leave these
finished tasks to reurn to nv proses
sion of the law and to give all NV
leisure time to fight as hard for, the
political freedom of women as 7 have
always fought for your liberal leader
ship.
III seems a long seven years, Mr.
president, since ! first campaigne I
with you when you were running for
governor of New Jersey. In evcry
circumstance throughout those years