Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-01-10
Champions of Cause
Are Confident
of Victory
-
TEST IS AT HAND
House is,.Pledged to
Take Vote Early
This Evening

WAsHlNGToN. Jan a-PrefIdent
Wilson tonight threw his support 10
the federal amendment for woman
suffrage
bn the eve or vote on suffrage
IN the house. ~ Democratic members
called nt the white House with word
mat many of their colleagues wantod
AdNI'o from the head OF their party
as Z" the position they should take.
There was conference OF forty min
uies, the result OF which was de-
Hrrlhcd ~ this statement dictated by
the president himself ana made
public 10y the delegation:
The committee found that the
president had not felt AT liberty /,
volunteer his advice To members OF
congress In this important matter. hut
Wh"n We sought his advice no very
frankly and earnestly advised us TO
Nole Tor the amendment ns an act
OF right and Justice to- the woman
"i tho country and OF the world"
Ia these few lines suffrage cham
plons saw certain victory. where a
rev days ago most of them privately
were conceding defeat A large ma
JoriV Of the Republicans In the ho,tso
have been counted upon to supnort
the amendment ana enough Demo
oras are committed 20 assure a close
vote. with the weight OF the prcsi-
nehts influence to swing doubtful
Democrats, Representative Raker.
chairman OF the suffrage committee,
lubilantly predicted tonight that the
neeessary two thirds would De ex-
ocded by 10 OF twenty votes.
opDoncnts StIIi Claim Majority.
opponents OF suffrage were claim
lnk safe margin asaih the amend
ment during the day IN spite OF inti-
nations from the suffragists that a
lbrre were no formal predictions
from the opponents bnight but a
tremendous fight IN promised
The news or the presidents action
came as complete surprise TO nearly
everybody In the capital. tho some
pt the suffrage leaders have insisted
for long time that the president was
with them and would tell anybody
who asked him. Until nov in aiI
public utterances the president has
held to the view that suffrage WAS a
question 20 be determined by the In
di'idual states and not by federal
action.
Conditions Change His stand.
No statement was forthcoming
from the White House tonight 10 ex-
plain his preaent stand Members of
congress, who participated In the con.
ference, however. said the president
told them he still believed the proper
and orderly way Of dealing with the
Y question was to permit each state to
take tts own action but In view OF
United states and the world generally
ne felt free 10 advise submission of n
federal amendment 10 the states
In emphasizing Ihis view. he IL said
10 have declared that the United
States as "a leader IN the great family
ot nations cnn not disassociate ltaeif
IRON the family aud cannot be re-
acuonary on any great world dues-
ton when his callers talked of the
state rights issue. the president liz said
20 have told them he did not feel that
TINS WAS the situation at all; that suf-
ifage was policy and not a princl-
pie. He pointed out that the federal
constitution now deals with the aunIi-
ilcalons or electors and prercribes
the qualification of those entitled 90
vote for members Of congress.
Representative Taylor spoke OF the
King Of liclgium'S advocacy of woman
suffrage ~ how England was
pledged to II and probably France
The president said the governor gen
erhl Of Canada, who had luncheon
with him today. told him Canada WAS
going 10 have woman suffrage
Believes Time Ripe.
Any member OF congress opposed to
" oman tsuifruge under any circum-
stances tho president said ought not
70 vote other than his convictions. but
his own opinion was that this was the
.imc to vote for the amendment
The no use begins debate tomorrow
On the Raker resolution for stbmIs-
hon OF the Susan n. Anthony consti-
uttonal amendment 20 the states.
lnder an agreement to end general
lebate at o'clock In the afternoon.
\ vote probably wall be rsached early
n the cvcAing