The evening world., 1918-09-30
PRESIDENT URGES WOMAN SUFFRAGE
AS A VITAL WAR MEASURE

and upon the very skirts and edges
of the battle itself We shah not only
be distrustcd, but shall des,rve TO be
distrustCd, if we do not entranChise
them with the fullest possible en-
tranchisemcnt. as 1t is now certain
that the other great free nations will
cnfranchise them. We cannot iso-
ate our thought and action In such
a matter from the thought OF the
world. We must either conform or
deliberately reject the leadership of
liberal minds to others"
The women Of America are too
noble and too intelligent and too de-
voted TO be 'slackers, whether you
give or withhold this thing that is
mere justice, but I know the magic
IL will work in their thoughts and
spirits IL you give IL to them. | pro-
pose II as | would propose to admit
soldiers to the suffrage, the men hght-
ing in the field for our liberties, and
the liberties of the world, we're they
excluded. The tasks OF the women
lie at the very heart of the war, and
! know how much stronger that hear
will beat If you do this just thing
and show our women that you tru 1
them as much as you in fact and OF
necessity depend upon them.
this amendment is a vitality necessary
war measure. and do YOU need fur
ther proof? DO you stand in need OF
the trust Of other peoples and Of the
trust OF our own women? Is that
trust an asset or is nit not?
II tell YOU plainly, as the COmnan-
der-in-Chie of our armies and Of the
gallant men I'm our fleets, as the pres
ent spokesman OF this people in our
dealings with the men and women
throughout the world who are now
our partners. as the responsible head
Of great Government which stands
and Is Questioned day by day as to It's
purposes, its principles, its hopes
whether they be serAviceable to men
everywhere or only to itself. and who
must himself answer these question
ings, or bc shamed, as the guire and
director Of forces caught in the grip
OF war and by the same token IN need
OF every material and spiritual re-
source this great nation posscSses-l
| tell YOU plainly that this measure
which I urge upon YOU IS vital 10 the
winning of the war and TO the cner-
gies alike Of preparation and OF battle.
| "And not to the winning OF the war
only. Il is vital to the right solu-
ton ot ;hc Srca; problems which ""
must settle, and settle immedlatoly,
when the war Is over. We shall need
| then in our vision OF affairs, as We
/ have never needed them before. IN"
sympathy and insight and clear
moral instinct OF tho women or the
world The problems OF that time
! will|strikc to the roots OF many
| things that we have not hitherto
questioned. and for one believe thlt
our safety in those questioning days
/ hot al of I'M "A q
tcrs that touch society to the quick
will depend upon the direct and au-
thuritatvc participation OF women IN
4 our counscls. We shall need their
moral sense 10 preserve what is right
and fine and worthy in our system oi
| life as well as to discover just whai
It is that ought to be purified and
reformed. Without their counseling'
We shall be only half wise.
"That is my case. This Is my up'
peal. Many may deny its validity, u
they choose, but no one can brush 4
aside or answer the arguments upoT
which it is based. Tho executive
tasks Of this war rest upon me,
ask that YOU tighten them and place
in my hands instruments, splritua
instruments, which do not now pos
SCss, which | sorCly need, and whlCI
Ii nave daily 10 apologize for no
being able to employ"
The President had hardly left IN,
. Senate chamber before Senator I'm
derw ood OF Alabama, an Anti-Sui
frage, urged defeat Of the resolution
A canvass Of those Senators upoI
whom the Presidents appeal Wa
held likely to have the most offoc
failed to reveal one who would sa,
he had decided to support the re5o
luton.
| Senator Bcnot, South Carolina, VIII,
/; on Saturday said n he could be con
WINGED Suffrage was necessary TO vii
the war he would vote for II, decline
to state whether he had been con
A. yinCCd,
= Southern Democrats were appar
! entity embarrassed by the President
flat statement that Suffrage is a VITA
Z war measure.