South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-30
PRESIDENT ASKS
WOMEN'S 8 VOTES
As A WAR BILL
Tells Senate Suffrage Should
be Granted "if We Wish
to Lead the World to
Democracy"
International News Service


WASHINGTON. Sept Speak
ing as commander-in-chief of the
army and navy, Pres't Wilson today
demanded that the senate pass the
suffrage amendment as war
measure" This action is vital ne
said. because of the effect that il
will have upon the peoples Of the
world who expect this country TO
lead the war in all democratic meas
ures. The United States must not be
alone in accepting the lesson that
the women shall have equal share
in settling not only the problems
now, but those which Will come aft
er the war ends. Safety in handling
the big problems that viii follow the
end of the lighting that
women be given direct participa-
tion in our counsels the president
declared.
Presidents Speech.
Gentlemen of the senate. The
unusual circumstances of world war
i'm which we stand and are judged
i'm the view not only Of our own
people and our own consciences but
also in the view Of all nations and
peoples will. hope, justify i'm your
thought as il does in mine. the mes
sage ] have come to bring you I
regard the concurrence of the senate
in the constitutional amendment
proposing the extension of the .suf-
frage to women as vitality essential
10 the successful prosecution of the
great war Of humanity in which we
are enga ged. ] have come 70 urge
upon YOU the conSidera tions which
have led me TO that conclusion. r.
is not only my privilege, it is also
my duty 20 apprise YOU of every cir
cumstance and element involved in
this momentous struggle which
seems to me 70 affect its very
process and its outcome. II is my
duty to win the war and 10 ask YOU
TO remove every obstacle that stands
in the way Of winning it,
Only Question of Method.
IT had assumed that the senate
would concur in the amendment be-
cause no disputable principle is in
volved but only a question of the
method 10y which the suffrage is To-
be extended to women. There is
and can be no party issue involved
i'm IT, Both Of our great national
parties are pledged. explicitly
pledged. 10 equity of suffrage for
the women of the country Neither
party. therefore. ID seems 20 me. can
justify hesitation as 10 the method
OF obtaining il. can riEhtfulIy hesi-
tate TO substitute federal initiative
for state initiative. II the early adop-
tion of this measure is necessary TO
the successful prosecution OF the
war and if the method OF state ac-
ton proposed i'm the party platforms
of 1916 is impr3ctica bic within any
reasonable length OF time. If prac-
-icable at all And. its adoption is.
IN my Judgment clearly necessary
20 the successful prosecution Of the
war and the successful realization
of the objects for which the war is
being fought
This is Peoples War
That judgment I take the liberty
of urging upon YOU with solemn
earnestness for reasons which 1 shall
state very frankly and which 7 shall
$ they seem 10 me.
This is a peoples war and the
peoples thinking constitutes its at
mosphere and morale. not the
prednections Of the drawing room
or the political considerations OF the
caucus. II we be indeed democrats
and wish 10 lead the world 20 de-
rlocracy, we can ask other peoples
20 accept in proof Of our sincerity
and our ability 20 lead them whittier
they wish 20 be led nothing less
persuasive and convincing than our
actions. our professions viii not
suffice. Verifcation must be forth
coming when verification is asked
for And i'm this case verification
is asked for.-asked for in this par
ticular matter. You ask by whom