Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-09
WHAT WOMEN ARE
DOING IN WASHINGTON
Washington, July 0,


II language makes her nest in Washington
this summer until Congress adjourns. She is
Sioux princess. and secretary of the
Society of American Indians she is intent on
obtaining needed legislation for her people.
Mrs. Gertrude Bonnim is zitkaia-sas pale
face name Her husband is an officer in the
United States army and her ffteen-year-od
son. in boys camp in the country. is put
ting into practice some of the lore of his
Indian ancestors.
THEIR absence leaves Mrs, Bonnim free
l. for her work on Capitol Hill. She has
two objectives in the open campaign she is
waging for the good of her people; one
is immediate, and probably will soon be
reached; the other. full citizenship for In
dian men and women, may be postponed for
many years.
Immediate legislation is sought by Mrs
Bonnim in order TO make unlawful all traf-
lc in "peyote" on Indian reservations Pey-
ote is weed which grows in the deserts OF
the Southwest and takes the place of opium
or hasheesh to Its users The sale of liquors
has long been forbidden on all Indian lands
Mrs Bonnm believes peyote should be placed
under the same restrictions and that II should
not be allowed through the mails. After four
teen years as teacher on Indian reservations
Mrs Bonnim says she knows whereof she
speaks when she declares this weed to be far
more harmful than alcohol to her nation.
At THE peace conference when the self
"A determination of subject peoples is con-
sidered. this Indian chieftainess would create
n sensation If she appeared to plead for the
rights of the Indian In western clothes Mrs
Bonnim seems plump, handsome matron
with a heavy coil of blue-black hair, and
pleasing countenance She differs in no way
from many other women of her age in the
United States. But the minute she appears
in her national costume of soft yellow deer
skin, heavily beaded in blue and rose, she
attracts all eyes. Her two long black braids
frame her face to perfecton--beaded moe
casins and leggings complete the picture.
while around her waist is a heavy belt of
silver clasps, ending in a beaded purse which
hangs to her knees. The colorS strong
and crude and Zitkala-Sa's ruddy skin and
shining black eyes stand forth in vivid con-
trast
THESE are the days when anti-sufragists
i In Washington are making much of the
slogan "self-determination for subject peo-
pies" applying 1t just to the Senate OF
tho United States They ask that the Presi-
dent. leader of his party shall not use
the big stick on these kindly old gentlemen
| in the north wing of the Capitol to induce
| them to pass the suffrage amendment. even
| though 1t be an Administration measure.
On the other hand. Alice Paul. >leader or
| the militant suffrag!sts and chairman of the
| National Woman's party, does not attempt to
conceal her disappointment AZ the further
post ponement of the vote The bill came up
| for consideration in the Senate at the end
| of last month. and the suffragsts refused
| to pair with Senator Ollie James. i'll in
| Baltimore hospital, saying that they coulu
| not afford to throw away a vote In corse-
ouence a loud cry of ''discourtesy" was raised
| by the opposition.
| ssIT is nonsense to talk of dscourtesy."
/ said Miss Paul. seated In her purple
| and gold office at the headquarters of the
| woman's party. Senator James has been
| i'll for months and probably will be for
long time to come Because he is unable to
| perform his official duties Is no reason why
! he should have the right to cripple another
man. The nation pays each Senator $500
| year. If Mr.. James is incapacitated from
earning his salary he should not seek to
| deprive the nation of the services of still
another legislator. This seems to be a trick
raised by the ants to Justify them In fill
| clustering against the amendment Senator
| Reed threatened to hold up indefinitely all
| pending appropriations. amounting to
Sl2, 900. .000.0 II we tried to force vote.
| Rather than risk such situation. Senator
l. Jones, in charge of the bill preferred to post
| pone any action. He will bring the bill up
| again as soon as he believes it wise perhaps
| before Congress adjourns for its short recess
| AMONG the visitors TO the Senate galleries
IAon the day the suffrage vote was expected
| appeared Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst the vet
| eran English militant under whom Miss Paul
served in the old days when the peace of
| the world was broken only by the "wild
women" of Britain, seeking the vote which
| the has since given them.
Mrs. Pankhurst. who is a friend of Miss
| Fauls, took lunch the other day at the tea
| room which the woman's party has estab-
| lishcd in it's headquarters on Jackson place
This is the restaurant which was to be named
The New Occoquan," in memory of the
workhouse where the militantS We're confined
last summer after picketing. They have de-
cided against the name. however. The cafe
teria Is too attractive to be cursed at the
outset with the wrong label