Arizona republican., 1918-01-10
WILSON THROWS SUPPORT TO FEDERAL AMENDMENT
 FOR ;39 MAN SUFFRAGE,
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-President Wilson tonight threw his support tC the federal amendment for woman sui frage.
 On the eve of vote on suffrage in the house, twelve democratic members called at the White House with word that many of their colleagues wanted advice from the head of their party as to the position they should take. There was a conference of forty minutes. the result of which was described in this statement. dictated by the president himself and made public by the dele gation:
 The committee found that the pres ident had not felt at liberty to volun- teer his advice to members of congress in this important matter but when we sought his advice he very frankly and earnestly advised us to vote for the amendment as an act of right and jus tice to the women of the country and of the world
 In these few lines suffrage cham pions saw certain victory where a few days ago most of them privately were conceding defeat.
 conceding defeat. X large majority of the republicans in the house have been counted upon to support the amend ment and enough democrats are com mltted to assure d close vote. With the weight of the presidents influence to swing doubtful democrats, Repre- sentative Baker chairman of the suf- frage committee, jubilantly predicted tonight that the necessary two-thirds would be exceeded by fifteen or twenty votes.
 Opponents of suffrage were claiming a safe margin against the amendment during the day in spite of intimations from the suffragists that trump card yet was to be played. There were no formal predictions from the opponents tonight but a tremendous light is promised.
 All of the members who went to the White House were democrats and most or them supporters of the amendment but there were several uncommittei In the deelgation were Representative Baker, California; Taylor Colorado: Barkley and Cantrill, Kentucky; Hay den, Arizona; Gregg and Jones of Texas; Ayres, Kansas: Caraway, Ar kansas; Mdyes, Utah; Linthicum, Maryland; Brumbaugh. Ohio After Mir. Baker had explained the | object of the call, each member told ] the president of the situation in his state. One said the presidents advice would aid him in determining the ques- tion and that many other members were similarly situated.
 | The president is said to have replied that while he had felt it was not proper | to send for members or to volunteer | his advice, he was glad of the oppor- tunity that the visit of the delegation gave him. He indicated that he had not felt at liberty to go beyond the party platform which had declared woman suffrage to be a state issue. until changed conditions made it ne- eessary.
 Representative Taylor spoke of the king of Belgium's advocacy of woman suffrage, of how England was pledged to 1t and probably France. The presi- dent said the governor general of Can l ada, who had luncheon with him today, told him Canada was going to have woman suffrage.
 Any member of congress opposed to | woman suffrage under any circum- stances, the president said, ought not to vote other than his convictions. but ms own opinion was that this was the l time to vote for the amendment While the president was talking, one Of the members made a note of what he
 said. The president took a pencil and
 said he would put it in writing himself.
 and the statement later was dictated to
 White House stenographer.
 The house begins debate tomor- row on the Raker resolution for sub
 mission of the Susan B. Anthony
 constitutional Amendment to the
 statutes, under an agreement to end
 general debate at five o'clock in the
 afternoon. A vote probably will be
 reached early in the evening.
 Woman suffrage leaders, elated
 over the presidents action, issued
 statesments tonight by the dozen.
 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, presi-
 dent of the National American Wom-
 an Suffrage association, said: We are thrilled by the presidents $ l statement. Most of all do we ap-
 preciate his setting forth that pas
 sage of the amendment is ar act of
 right and justice at this time to the
 women of this country and of the
 world. The presidents statement is , the most important he has vet made : on the suffrage question and scom- ing when it does ranks as a war
 utterance with the statement of } Premier Lloyd George Mir Asquith l and the premier of Canada on this same subject
 Miss Alice Paul, head of the Wom- ans party, who with others served jail sentences and went on a hunger } strike for so-called picketihg of the
 White House in behalf of the sui 5 frage amendment, said: , Tt is difficult to express our qualification at the presidents stand. r For four years we have striven to 2 secure his support for the natior a i amendment, for we know that this Continued on Page Two)