Evening journal., 1918-10-01
WILSON'S SUFFRAGE
Plea IS OPPOSED
Underwood Opens Fight as
President Closes Speech
in Senate
OTHERS JOIN
The OPPOSITION

WASHINGTON. Oct t.-Antl-euHfdSe
ranks In the Senate remained unbroken
last night, despite President Wilson's
personal plea at the Capitol yesterday
for the passage OF the Susan B. An
thony amendment to the Federal Con-
stitution. As result, as war meas
ure, the President may be facing his
first defeat on an important issue at
the hands OF Congress since he flrst
was elected to the White House.
The suffrage forces secured a delay
IN the vote until today, so that Presi-
dental influence could be exerted to-
night on several Of the Senators who
are opposed 10 suffrage, but who have
heretofore been ardent supporters OF
everything the administration has
wanted
The President appeared in the Sem
ate chamber at 1 o'clock yesterday
and asked-almost demanded-that the
women Of the nation be given the vote
which he declared they have earned by
their work In the war. For the FIRST
lime ne addressed Congress as the com
mander-in-chief Of the army and navy,
and he declared that the world is look
Ing 10 the United States 20 place wo-
men on an equal footing with her men.
He had hardly finished speaking
when Senator Oscar w. Underwood, Of
Alabama, a powerful leader In the
Democratic party and an opponent Of
Mr.. Wilson for the Presidential nomi-
nation In 1912, jumped 10 his feet and.
while the President still stood In the
rostrum, asked the Senate 10 give him
hearing while he stated reasons why
the amendment should not be passed
Dpnosed 10 "Mob Rule"
Referring Instantly TO the Prexi-
dents fnsistence that the resolution
be passed because democracy demands
L, President Underwood declared that
there can be no democracy founded
upon mob rule OF the democracy"
The only democracy, ne said, Is the
democracy Of the United States as II
has existed for moro than iA0 years.
Thst democracy, he continued, Is
founded upon the individual rights OF
the separate States, and the passage
Of suffrage amendment by Congress,
nc said, would be a gross violation OF
he rights OF the States.
Senator Underwood continued 10
speak for some time after the Presi-
dent had left the Senate chamber.
While he was speaking the antl-suf-
frage leaders, uneasy but grirnly de-
termined. carefully polled their ranks
with the result that they still had
81 votes against the measure.
Senator Martin. OF Virginia; Over
man. of North Carolina; Fletcher Of
Florida, and other southern Senators
who have been strongly opposed to
suffrage, appeared 10 resent the presi-
dents last minute plea for the amend
ment, and declared that they VIII re-
main opposed TO suffrage in spite Of
his speech. Senator Benet, OF South
Carolina. who on Friday startled the
ranks of the suffragists by announcing
his opposition to the resolution, like
wise said that the Presidents. speech
had not caused him 10 change his mind.
Senator Benet on Friday voiced opposi-
ilon 10 the amendment because he
said, he was not convinced that II Is a
war necessity.
President Wilson said; Gentlemen
OF the Senate; The unusual clrcum-
stances of a world war I'm which we
7ltlb anu Juuttu III tiiN NAtW iUb
only for our own people and our own
consciences but also In the view Of all
nations and peoples will, / hope, JUS
iify in your thought, as ii does In mine,
the message / have come to bring you.
] regard the concurrence Of the Senate
In the constitutional amendment pro-
posing the extension Of the suffrage to
women as virtually essential TO the sue
,cessful prosecution OF the great war OF
humanity In which we are engaged.
have come to urge upon You the con-
sderations which have. led me 10 that
conclusion. It Is not only my priv
ilege. II is also my duty to apprise you
OF every circumstance and element in
volved in this momentous struggle
which seems to me 60 affect lts very
processes and its outcome. II is my
duty to win the war and TO ask you 10