New-York tribune., 1918-01-10


Chapman Gait was having a dull little
birthday dinner tonight at the Suf-
frage Club. There were no festivities,
and the conversation was wholly on
last minute devices and last minute
hopes for the passage of the Federal
amendment. Twenty of the indefatig
able suffrage leaders, who had been
lobbying all day, were snatching a hasty
bite before journeying to the Capitol
to attend the Republican caucus-that
was all the dinner party amounted to,
and nobody mentioned Mrs. Cats
birthday.
Suddenly Miss Rose Young burst in
upon them, with President Wilson's
answer to the congressman.
'Its all over" she cried; "we've
Won"
Then there was let loose such tor
rent of rejoicing as no one else ever
inspired from those hard working suf-
frage leaders. They jumped to their
feet and waved their ice water glasses
in a toast to "President Wilson-the
best friend suffrage ever had."
Miss Lucy Anthony, niece of Susan
B. Anthony, the most beloved Of
pioneer sutfragsts, made the room
ring with second toast:
Washington, Lincoln, wilson,
Mrs. Gait smiled serenly, as one who
would say that she had been confident
all along that President Wilson would
come up to the scra Itch if it were neces-
sary. She has never divulged what
the President said to her on the mem
the day after the suffrage victory was
assured in New York, but she has never
failed 10 look wise when that visit was
mentioned, and to declare mysteriously
that she was satisfied"
Sufragists have made no secret of
the fact that they needed the Presi-
dents help in passing the Federal
amendment this year; they believed
they could carry it by narrow mar
gin without his help, but with him.
they knew there was no such thing as
failure.
"We arc thrilled" Mrs Gait said
finally, "hy the Presidents statement.
Most of all do we appreciate his set
ting forth that the passage of the
amendment is an act of right and JUS
tice at this time to the women, both of
this country and the whole world The
Pres dent's statement is the most im-
portant he has yet made on the suf-
frage question, and, coming when it
does, ranss as a war uttcrance with
those made by Lloyd George, Mr.. AS
quith and the Premier Of Canada on
this subject.'
Never Doubted Wilson
the congressional committee of tho
National Woman Suffrage ssociation.
the woman who has been in charge of
The suffrage lobby, declared:
"We have been confident all along
that the President was truly our friend,
and that he would give us his support
when the opportune time came. With
the strong Republican support that has
already been promised US, we feel that
we shall have great victory to-
morrow
Mrs: James Lees Laidlaw, first vice
chairman of the New York State Won-
an Suffrage party, said:
'lt is forty years to day since the
suffrage resolution was first introduced
in Congress. 1t has been a long. hard
fight. but glorious one. President
" lion has helped us more than any
other President. As New York women
have already been so signally helped by
President Wilson, this seems only the
logical next step in the great work he
has done. We are glad that this word
did not como sooner-that it did not
come even earlier to-day. If it had we
might have lessened our labors, feel
ing confident of victory"
Miss Mary Garrett Hay. big Boss"
Of the woman suffrage party Of New
York City. predicted that the sutrrag-
ists would have at least 276 votes in
the House tomorrow
I'VE need only 26S to carry US TO
victory she said, "but we are sure of
from eight to ten more. OF course. a
large number Of Democrats NAV swine
over to our side to morrow as a result
OF the Presidents message. Every
Congressman from New York Civ wlil
;ote right.
The delegation which called on the
President was a result of Mrs. Cats
suggestion to the suffrage committee
last week that members who wanted to
know how the President stood should
SO and ask him. The suffragist5