Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-09
SUFFRAG|STS
IN WASHINGTON
Miss Rietta Emerson of Whining
ton Tells of Women's Party
Demonstration.

Miss Rietta NJ Emerson, executive
secretary of the New Castle county
w. G. L. L.. who attended the demon
| stration of the National Womans Party,
| in Washington on Tuesday, gives her
impression rs follows:
TO have an open mind regarding
all questions affecting our social and
moral well-being has always been my
! great desire and this is particularly true
regarding the methods OF obtaining the
enfranchisement of woman. The prin-
ciple involved IN the gcneIrl proposition
itself has passed the stage where 1T needs
defending.
THE demonstration on Tuesday, ar
ranged as a protest against further delay
In passing the Federal suffrage amend
ment was most orderly, quiet, digDified
and we'll arranged The procession formed
at the Headquarters of the National
Womans Party, which faces the west
side OF Lafayette Square; fifty-eight
women. carving huge banners of the
tri-color emblem of the party, marched
first, in single file, about SIX feet apart,
down the west side of the square and along
the south side to Lafayette Monument
They ranged in age from very young
girls to women of TO to 70-one of them
bore a service flag showing three stars,
representing her sons at the front and
many more were making similar sacrifices
for their country These were followed
bv host of women. wearing simply the
regalia of the party. but without banners
Of any kind. OF course n great crowd
had gathered, including moving picture
and newspaper men, and the marchers
were heartily applauded At the monu-
mcnt those who were to speak and those
grouping themselves in such q graceful
fashion, with the banners IN the rear,
as to ankle a beautiful picture, whether
one was friendly to the cause or not.
The first speaker had begun her
address and uttered about four short
sentences when a Gordon of police swept
up the steps of the monument, arrestlng
tie speakers and banner bearers. The
women submitted gracefully knowing
they were well within their rights. and
as they stood in the broiling hot sun
waiting for the patrol 10 return from its
various trips 10 the police court they
converscd pleasantly with the patrolmen
who had them IN charge and with the
crowd around 50 that arguments were
gwen out in small groups even though
no regular address was permitted.
Great indignation was expressed by
American women should be treated in
such a manner. in the rations capital
and in sight OF the White House. A
number of men even went so far as to
offer anv amount of bail for those who
lwould accept it. Even when the third
load was sent to the police court, crowded
INTO a small patrol, with the banners
strapped on the rear.-and this on the
hottest day since 1881 in the city Of
Washington the crowds hung around
and discussed the matter very thoroughly.
"A little later Judge Ben Lindsey,
who had been scheduled to speak at the
demonstration but who was delayed |
by the lateness of his train, arrived on |
the scene and after asking what had been |
done and was told, proceeded to express |
himself IN no uncertain way to the people !
who gathered around him, and this was |
constantly augmented when 1t was |
learned who was speaking and why. /
A suffragist stepping up to a policeman /
said: Why don't you arrest that man; |
n Is speaking In the public park. Judge |
Lindsey was not Interfered with. j
To one who believes that woman
should be recognized as part OF our
republican form Of government-that
we are not truly q democracy until she is
80 recognized-there could be nothing
distasteful in the maner OF protest made
by this dignifed womanly demonstration.
And if there are still some folks who
remain unconvinced that suffrage is a
necessity they would have an object
lesson in the group of munition workers
who went down TO take part; little girls
with acid stained fingers and arms, dis
colored hair that never viii be natural
again and full realization that every
minute OF the day they are risking their
lives that our boys at the front may
have sufficient ammunition, but willing
still to do their part Is it fair or just,
to say nothing of being Christian, to
deny to those brave girls right to say
how and by whom they shall be governed?
In a monarchy such things might be
tolerated, but in q country where we
boast of our freedom does it not seem
that all the people should be free, not
lust men people,"