Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-02
WOMEN DENOUNCE
SUFFRAGE PACIFlSM
DRAFT Platform Charging Pro-
German Effort for the Federal
Amendment.

WASHINGTON. December An
aggressive attitude against woman SUI
rage. feminism and socialism was
taken by the National Association OPP
posed TO Woman Suffrage here In
adopting a new national platform The
association put itself on record as
stoutly opposed to what 1t characterized
| as pro-German paciflst effort TO put
through the proposed suffrage amend
,nent 10 the Constitution.
The opponents Of woman suffrage do
clhrcd themselves for man-power I'm
government control. They affirmed
that the oath OF members Of Congress
20 uphold and defend the Constitution
OF the United States against all for
eign and domestic enemies morally and
truly applies to the present Constitu-
ton and TO the proposed Federal suf-
fraSe amendment"
Mrs. James W. Wadsworth, wife of
United States Senator Wadsworth, pre-
sided at the conference. at which TWEEN
ty-hve States were represented.
The new platform adopted by tho
association. copy OF which is to DO
sent 70 President Wilson, sets forth:
That In the recent election in New
York State woman suffrage was car
RED by the increased pro-German.
pacifist and Socialist vote cast I'm New
{ York City.
That the suffrage victory in New
forH has caused suftrasist. Socialists,
and pacinsts to demand the Immediate
passage of the Federal suffrage amend.
ment.
That the present Constitution OF tho
! United States and the Constitutions OF
tho several States and the national
platforms OF both great parties "recog-
hizc sine right OF each State to settle
| this question for itself"
~ m
Federal amendment would encourage
All pro-Gerina pacifists. and Social
ISIS Of both sexes in their demands for
national referendum on the war
That such a referendum could lead
only TO division OF public opinion
and become an instrument for the en-
! enlargement of resistance to the Sc
lcctfve draft and to army discipline.
That the Federal suffrage amendment
IS undemocratic and unjust, a destruc-
ton Of the right OF self-govcrnment.
AID would tremendously increase racial
problems and all other problems of
American democracy; therefore, be IL
Resolved. That the oath administer
ed to all members OF Congress and Of
ficers of the United States government
TO uphold and defend the Constitution
OF the United States against oil for
eign and domestic enemies" morally
and truly applies to the present Con-
| suffrage amendment, and
| That the association. in harmony
with it's paat principles and present
| ideals adopt and take appropriate ac-
| ton to defend the following national
| platform:
! The National Association Opposed to
| Woman Suffrage stands:
For home and national defense
! against woman suffrage fcminism and
| socialism.
For man power in government. be-
| lieving that democracy must be strong
| to be safe.
For the preservation Of the estab-
| lished foundations Of the American re-
| public as a model for the world.
| For the enforcement of the constitu-
| tional right of each State to settle tho
question of woman suffrage for itself
For efficiency and progress. without
waste and duplication in government.
| For the conservation Of the best wo-
manhood of all conditions and stations
OF life.
For the ultimate union OF women OF
all classes and creeds along nonparti-
san lines, so that the interests OF wo-
manhood, childhood and civilization
may be advanced free from the strife
and division Of politics, factions and
| parties. :
For tho retention OF the best ideals
| Of the past. adapted to the advantages
and opportunities given to women TN
| der modern conditions. so that tho
| fundamental principles of morality, of
patriotism and of world progress may
| ha MORA frmly eStn h1iShcd in TIM prea,