The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-10
president LONG
READY TOAPPROVE
NATIONAL SUFFRAGE
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
CONTINUED from Fir.t raEe. )

| CONTINUED from flrst taEe.
from the President-they were merely
relying on his fairness, on his readi-
ness to see the just and right side Of
every question when all phases are
| thoroughly explained to him.
Busy Day at White House.
/ II was a busy day at the White
! House there were many engage
ments, and to upset the schedule or
| Insert q special engagement can be
| accomplished only in urgent matters.
Secretary Tumulty was told early in
! the day OF the willingness OF a defe-
1 CATION OF members to come to the
| White House to ask the President to
! see them about woman suffrage. He
recognized the Importance OF the re-
quest and within a short time had
placed the matter before the Presi-
dent. The engagement was GRANTED
for late in the day. The conference
was long because the members eX-
planned individually what their posi-
ton had been and why an expression
from the President would be helpful.
And Mr.. Wilson unhesitatingly gave
his advice. He said the State by State
method had been his position in the
past, yet while he still believed that
would eventually bring the right to
vote to all women the process was
long drawn out and new world con-
ditions required revolutionary meth
DDS to get this reform. He mention
ed the fact that earlier in the day
he had lunched with the governor
general OF Canada who had told him
how women saved the day for con-
scription In Canada Mr.. Wilson re-
ferred to the declarations OF the Brit
ish and French governments in favor
OF woman suffrage and argued that
with America proclaiming her lead
ership in the cause OF democracy, the
United States could not afford to be
behind her allies.
Women have made the maximum
sacrihce-they have given of their
0eslI and blood to sustain the honor
OF the nation In this war-and Mr.
Wilson believed that IL was ian act
OF right and OF justice to the women
OF this country and the world"
The women leaders were jubilaut-|
not merely the National American
Woman Suffrage Association but the
National woman's Party pickets, too,
for while the latter did not pursue a
wise course in the beginning they
discontinued their tactics two months
ago and have since done effective
work in persuadinE members OF Con-
gress to vote for the Federal amend
ment. When the history OF the move
ment shall be written, Il will not be
denied that they had a great part IN
achieving victory. though their policy
in picketinE the White House was off,
set by the wisdom OF the Chief Execu-
tive himself, who feels now as he did
when he wrote TO the women leaders
OF New York State that the picketing
Of minority should not interfere with
the grant of the vote to the great
majority who have relied on dignIfied
methods OF persuasion.
Saved His Party.
Mr.. wilson incidentally saved his
party from defeat at the polls next
fall and perhaps in 1920 that Is, he
removed a troublesome Issue. II the
Democratic party is going to be
driven out of power. II viii not be
because OF suffrage, but something
else. The crisis in the Democratic
party's position has been everywhere
appreciated. The Republicans have
been united in favor OF the Federal
amendment. II IS a test Of progress
sivism. Had the Southern Democrats
brought about the defeat OF the meas
ure, young men throughout me ma
ton choosing their party would have
felt that the Democratic party was
handicapped by the South and could
not be progressive on vital issues
But the Democrats by their abandon
ment OF the States rights argument
in prohibition and now In woman suf-
frage have proved that they are
abreast OF the times. tina: they are
not a reactionary party, but ready to
conform to the spirit o. liberalism
that is revolutionizing the life OF the
whole world.