New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-01
Regards Gold Emblem as
Gift From Workers
to Workers
Resents Criticism
Leader Regrets False impress.
sion Regarding Testimonial
Was Created

Mrs. George Pratt made public last
I light a letter from Mrs. Norman der.
/ Whitehouse in reference to the gold
wreath which the sufrragists of New
York State plan to present TO the
woman who led them to victory in the
recent campaign. The wreath which
was presented TO Mrs. Whitehouse at
the suffrage convention last week was
only wax model, since suffragists had
not had time to prepare their gift in
permanent form. This was explained
at the time and the fund was collected
FOR the wreath of solid gold, which is
to be presented to Mrs. Whi:ehouse at
the national suffrage convention in
Washington.
Mrs. Whitehouse's letter said:
"My Dear Mrs. Pratt:
"My attention has been called 70 an
article in one of the morning papers
headed "A Solid Crown for Mrs. White
house. with a sub-head Coronation at
Washington
81 feel that the entire article so mis-
represents the spirit that lies behind
any contemplated gift to me that, al
though ! am embarrassed by the situa-
ton, | cannot let the incident pass
without comment.
If | had been consulted. ! should
have said with the greatest emphasis,
4 desire no gift | should have said
il particularly because | feel ] deserve
none.
Came As a Surprise
81 was entirely taken by surprise
when the wax wreath, not crown, was
presented to me at the suffrage din
ner held in celebration Of our victory
at the Biltmore Hotel, after ! had
placed upon the head Of each victori-
Gus county leader a wreath of laurel
leaves.
Let me assume that the newspaper
article this morning is correct in so
lar as q group Of suffragists, headed
by you. do plan through a fund raised
for the purpose to put into permanent
form the lovely wreath of wax which
has already been given TO me. The
newspaper article says there is resent
ment among the suffrage workers
aroused by the "royal honor" you
plan to confer upon me. Let me tell
you that no resentment in the world
could be as great as mine, if there
were really any such idea back of the
gift | should resent being placed in
so false a position. | should hasten to
refuse a symbol Of so preposterous a
relationship between women who have
been working side by side for the in
crease Of true democracy.
Praises Her Colleagues
"But when all the false descriptions
are swept aside. when it is seen that
the gift is wreath, not a Grown,
that the giving is to worker from
other workers as a remembrance of
our common victory, and is not the be-
stowal of a royal honor the stua-
ton reveals itself as very natural
one. Many, many thousands of women
have worked together side by side in
the suffrage campaign for great
ideal. | have worked no more devoted
ly than innumerable election district
captains. assembly district leaders and
other officers of the New York State
Woman Suffrage party whom | know.
1.-TWO years ago | happened to be in
the position to accept the responsibility
Of leadership when a new state chair
man was neeueu. IL Is because OF the
accident Of my position that | seem
TO some of you TO share in a greater
degree than the other workers the
glory of the victory, which has come
after nearly seventy years of effort
in this state.
at is natural on similar occasions
not only to women, but to men, 70
want to express satisfaction, JOY or
appreciation in some such tangible
form.
81 am going, therefore. if or when
the wreath is given to me, to accept
it with the greatest gratitude as an
evidence TO be forever treasured OF
my own good fortune in having been
the chairman Of the New York State
Woman Suffrage party at the time
when the long struggle was TO be re-
warded with victory"