The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-01
WILSON FAILS
ITO WIN SENATE
: FOR SUFFRAGE
Measure Can Carry To-day
Only by Slim Chance,
Despite His Plea.
81 OPPONENTS ARE FIRM
President Speaks for Amend
ment and Underwood Leads
Anti Attack.
81 OPPONENTS ARE FIRM
Special Despdtch TO THE.srH.

NpccIof DcSputCH 10
WASHINGTON. Sept. 3o.-President
Wilson, with woman suffrage almost
lost cause. made a desperate effort
to save II to-day when he appeared
before the Senate and in his capacity
OF Commander in Chief of the Army
and Navy urged a favorable vote on
the Susan B. Anthony amendment as
"a vitality necessary war measure"
Never has he spoken with such
carnestness. never has he thrown his
whole personality into such an appeal.
His appearance almost unheralded left
some Of his supporters with mingled
feelings of surprise and resentment.
In concluding his brie: address the
President put 1t up fatty TO the Senate
TO support his views or for the first time
refuse, He even went so far as to put
the appeal on personal grounds.
But In the face OF this appeal the
situation 30 far as any surface condi-
uofs ARE concerned <remains tonight as
IL the President had not spoken. The
Senator's OF both factions realize that
now that the President has demanded
action they cannot longer defer vote.
They cannot admit a Scotch verdict.
Hope for reconsideration.
1t was plain tonight that the hopes
OF the White House and of the suf-
trage leaders rested on the recess secured
to-day by the suffrage side and the
chance 1t presented OF the Presidents
solemn and impa ssioned appeal sinking
overnight with greater effect into the
minds of the recalcitrant Southern Sem
ators, whose obduracy to-day was the
cause Of much pain. The chance is ad-
nittedly a slim one, but upon 1t the
hopes OF suffrage will hang until to-
morrow brings the final vote.
The announcement that the President
vas coming changed the gloom in the
suffrage ranks. There was one thing
needed to swing the balance to their
sde. OF the thirty-four Senators holding
out against the adoption OF the Anthony
amendment twelve were Republicans and
twenty-five Democrats. Surely, thought
Inc suffragists, the pressure of the Exec
utire presence must swing at least the
necessary two of the twenty-five oppo-
nents into line for the amendment.
Underwood Not Convinced.
But the effect OF the Presidents COM
Ing the effect of his argument and
earnest appeal was not to be discerned
by ripple mark in the Senate. Un-
doubtedly Democratic Senators disposed
TO vote against suffrage upon grounds
Of personal conviction or reasons of
expediency among their own consttu-
ents were rendered exceedingly uncom-
Portable. The moment the President left
The Senate chamber the leaders began
their conferences. The President ceased
speaking at l :12 F. NJ.
His form had scarcely disappeared
through the doorway before Senator
Underwood (Ala.), one OF the leaders
OF the opposition on the Senate side. was
recognized by the chair. A stiffness
fell upon members and galleries alike
because OF the desire to see what effect
The Presidents appeal would have on the
Alabama Senator, who has seldom failed
10 follow his party's leader. But the
courage and determination of his con-
HIctions were written plainly on Sem
ator Cnderwoods face as he began to
talk In his first sentence he demolished
Inc hopes Of the sufrragists Of having
gained him as a convert.
Il do not desire the joint resolution
TO come to a vote without expressing to
the Senate for the benefit OF my own
constituency the views l have why do
not believe this joint resolution should
be passed"
Senators Seem 40 stand Pa.
There was to be no stampede after
all shlver of disappointment swept
through the suffrage crowd in the gal
leries
The afternoon wore on, an afternoon
OF conferences and star chamber chats
by the leaders OF both factions of botf
parties, but in the end the Senate stood
so far as the intentions of the Demo
Gratis we're concerned, just where II
stood before the arrival OF the ChieI
Executive. Not a Senator would ad
NIT that his vote had been Influenced
in the slightest by the Presidents eio
quence or arguments
Out OF the twenty-five Democratic Sen
ators aligned against suffrage only eigh
have been regarded as good ground fo
suffrage cultivation. These are Beck
ham (KyD, Benet IS. c., F1etche
tFla). Guion U-s). Overman IN. CO
Shields (Tenn), Trammell (Fla.) ant
Wolcott Del). In the course OF tn
afternoon Senator Beckham delivered ;
IL