New-York tribune., 1918-09-17
Burn
Wilson's Promise to
Aid Amendment
President Again Assailed at
National Party's Demon
stration in Washington

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-President
Wilson's suffrage statement given at
2:30 O'Clock this afternoon to the wom-
en- of the Democratic party, who asked
hlm to urge the passage Of the Federal
suffrage amendment, was burned at
4:30 o'clock at the base Of the statue
of Lafayette as the climax of the pro-
test demonstration of the National
Woman's party.
81 am, as l think you know, heartily
in sympathy with you have endeav-
orcd to assist you in every way in my
power, and ] shall continue to do so.
| Will do all ] can to urge the passage
of the amendment by an early vote"
were the Presidents words which sun
piled Miss Lucy Branham, of Balti-
more, with a flaming torch for the
opening of her speech.
lhls torch" said Miss Branham.
symholizes the burning indignation Of
women who for hundred years have
been given words without action. In
the spring our hopes were raised bv
words much like these from President
wilson, yet they were permitted to be
followed by filibuster against our
amendment on the part of Democratic
Senate leaders.
Appealed for Five Years
For five years. women appealed to
this President and his party for politi-
cal freedom. The President has given
words, and words, and words. To-day
women receive more than words. We
announce to the President and the
whole world to-day, by this act. our
determination that words shall no lon
ger be the only reply given to Ameri-
can women"
Members of the police force we're in
evidence at the demonstration, but with
new attitude toward the women
Whom they so recently took to iaj].
They smlingly kept order in the crowd
and cleared the sidewalk for the pro.
cesslon of banner bearers.
lhe procession Of forty banner bear
ers' representing sixteen states. was
led by Mrs. Grace Frost, of Washing
ton who carried an American flag. Fol
lowing her were purple and yellow
and white banners of the Women's
party and lettered banners which bore
the questions: "How long must women
"alt Tor llberty?" and "Mr. President,
"ha' VIII you do for woman suffrage ?"
- NPPN"i W A@didyCtle opened the
programme after the procession had
marched from the National Woman's
party's headquarters to the Lafavette
statue The appeal, inspired bv Gen.
efal :Pershing's words "Lafavctte. we
are here'-was written by Mrs. Rich
ara Wainwright. wife Of Rear Admiral
Wainwright. 9
Explain Burning of Promise
Miss Branham's burning of the Pres
,dents words followed. Mrs. Bertha
Moller, of Minneapolis. spoke to repre-
sent the women of the party in the
Middle West. In regard to the Presi-
dents statement she sad
he burning of the words of the
leader OF the party in power this after
noon will flash to the women of the
West among whom are millions of
voters, picture of what the real rec
ord of the Administration has been on
the question of democracy for Ameri-
can woman"
The speech of Mrs. Jessie Hardy
Mackaye, which concluded the demon
stratlon. emphasized the fact that it
IS the same Congress and the same
ADMINISTRATION that are appropriatine
billions of dollars and enlisting the
services of millions of men to save the
world for democracy. that are at the
same time refusing to do so common
a piece OF justice as to vote to submit
the woman suffrage amendment to
the states'