New-York tribune., 1918-10-25
Borah Denies He
Pledged Suffrage
Amendment Vote
Published Report of His
Promise to Women
Arouses Ire
Miss Paul Surprised
Leader Insists That the Sen.
ator Agreed to Give
His Support
Miss Paul Surprised
Especial Dispatch to The Tribane)

WASHINGTON. Oct. 24.-The SUI.
frage drive against the Senators who
opposed adoption of the Constitutional
amendment has driven Senator Wi liam
Z. Borah, of Idaho. to cover. Senator
Borah conferred last Sunday with Miss
Alice Paul over his obligations in the
matter of voting on the Federal suf-
conference Miss Paul sent the follow
ing statement to the newspapers of
Idaho, but did not bother to give it
any other publicity:
ave have ta!ked with Senator Borah,
especially as to his views Of the bind
ing obligations of the platform of his
party. Our understanding from the
interview is that he will carry out, by
voting for the national suffrage amend
ment, the platform, if elected"
Senator Borah stated tonight that
he had given Miss Paul no Statement"
as TO his intentions in voting on the
Federal suffrage amendment. He fur
ther declared that he had nothing to
say as to his position on suffrage to
any one at this time. He admitted
shat he had talked with Miss Pau. over
the party platform. which he accepted
in accepting the nomination, and which
Endorses woman suffrage. But the Sen
ator insisted that Miss Paul had no
idea as to what his intentions on the
matter of voting actually were.
IL don't care what Miss Paul mas to
say on the matter" said Senator Borah
tonight. land | don't care to hear
what her announcement was"
Miss Paul seemed absolutely sure
that the Senator, after accepting the
party platforms Endorsement of woman
suffrage, would feel himself bound to
vl,o< L1 IL
with bis nom nation She cited the
case of Senator McCumber, of North
! rsonal views were op-
posed to the Federal suffrage amend
ne..v bu. whose vote was governed by
resolution of the state Legislature
favorine suffrage.
point that Miss Paul made was
shat the Republican platform in Idaho
did not contain a suffrage plank in
1912. and that Senator Borah had never
been bound on the matter of woman
tion as TO whether he would feel the
soon as this fall election was past.
or whether he would consider it bind :
ing only after March a. Miss Paul be-
leves the OBJ gation will be effective
as soon as the Senate meets after
election.
The interview does not mean that
the members of the National Woman's
Party. who have organized in the State
of Idaho for g strong campaign against
Senator Borah, will abandon their work
altogether, according to Miss Paul
ave will try to confirm his attitude
Of supporting his party platform" was
Miss Pauls way cf putting it, "and if
our members in Idaho are convinced
that the Senator is sincere we will not
campaign against him. We believe now
that he wi vote for the Federal
amendment and that he will vote for
it as a member of this Congress-"
If the conjectures of the Woman's s
party are true in regard 70 Senator
Boran's change of vote. and f the new
Senator from South Carolina who will
succeed Senator Benet IS correctly
quoted as being for woman suffrage.
the Federal amendment will have
gained the two votes it lacked Octo-
Der l. and may be passed in the short
session of this CONGRESS-