The Washington herald., 1918-01-11
WOMEN TRIUMPHANT.

II was a day Of triumph for Miss
Jeanette Rankin. Of Montana. She
was acting floor lseder for the Re
publicans favoring the amendment.
and as such directed debate and as
, signed the time to be allowed each
one. On the desk before her was
bank Of flowers. When she voted
aye" to the resolution. galleries
and floor rang with applause.
But by a bit of INSIDE" politics,
she is deprived of having the resO-
luton known as the RANKIN reso-
luton" Within the suffrage COM
mittee were enough members to as
sure her the honor.
Neeker In Opposition. =
But Representative Meeker, Of Mis-
souri,, member Of her-the Repub-
! lican-psrty has opposed her cam
J Daign from the first He is an ant.
! He declared in committee he would
B rather have the resolution know
I after Chairman Raker than after the
/ only woman ever elected TO Congress
Z in the United States His vote lsct-
! tied the matter.
! President Wilson's last-moment con-.
/ version TO Federal instead of State sC-
/ ton came in for some bitter comment
! by southern Representatives.. Most
/ causuc Of all was Representative
Clark, OF FLORIDA. who said: 4
Quick Change Artists.
7 have seen some quick-chanEs
artists; I'm something of one myself;
but 1 can't keep up with that man.
Throughout the day leaders among
I the Republicans and Democrats WED
J in claiming support for the measure.
! The Democrats arguments that Pres
7 ident Wilson's influence proved the
| deciding factor were met with RepUb-
! liesR claims that it was the prepon-
, derating support among Republicans
that induced his action. They cited.
I too, the Republican caucus unani-
nous Endorsement of the amendment
( last night
Miss Rankin HonOred.
Miss Rankin opened the debate,
| Representative Raker attempted TO
take the floor himself. but an oppO-
nent OF suffrage, Walsh. Of Massachu-
setts. asked if it would embarrass his
plans too much IL the honor were
given Miss Rankin. Rsker sat down
in evident confusion. after saying he
would be glad 70 yield.
"OUr President" said Miss Rankin.
has taught us many instructive dis
tinctions He startled us by urging
that We distinguish between the Gel
man people and the German govern
ment. We who have lived for years
and who are STEPPED in the ideals OF
democracy find it difficult to think OF
a government as something apart from
the people.
Cites Case of GermanE.
Yet, as We make this distinction for
! Germany. will not our minds revert
to our own situation and be puzzled
How shall we explain the meaning
OF democracy IL the same Congress
which voted to enter a war TO make
the world safe for democracy refuses
TO give even this small measure Of.
democracy and justice to the women
OF the nation?"
Loudest applause in the day-long de-
bate was given Representative Decker.
Of Missouri. After citing womens
work and sacrifice in the war. and re-
plying TO arguments that women's vote
would oppose its vigorous prosecution.
he shouted: =
Women Are Bravest.
"Fll tell you why women should Dt
given a hand now-because they have
more courage. more grit. more sheer
determined bravery than men. Ths
world knows it,
Representative Raker's openinn
speech, after citing the forty-year his-
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