New-York tribune., 1918-01-11
Women Leaders Dazed When
Speaker Clark Announces Result
Realize Their Success Only When Republicans Lead
Tumult of Applause; Almost Incoherent Over
Victory; Guess It's Time to Take Tea Says One

Crowds of women. the largest, men
said, that ever descended upon Con-
gress, filled the galleries and the halls
all day. They stood in line, thirty and
forty long, waiting for a chance to the
galleries. There were 10 reserved seats
The suffrage leaders had taken their
places i'll the House gallery when the
doors opened, at 10 O'Clock. They
brought their luncheons with them, and
many had their knitting.
There was Il special rule for the day
forbidding bringing knitting bags into
the House. Beside the east door was
Il pile of pink and red and purple and
green bags almost as high as the cell
ing.
Good gracious, can't / knit at all %
cried one indignant woman after an
other as the hand Of the law reached
out and took her beautiful bag.
I'VE aren't taking any chances,
madame" replied the official. "You
folks make an awful lot Of camoufage
with them there bags. We don't know
what's in 'em."
"But l meant to be so patriotic. l
ihought while my country was giving
me the vote I'd be knitting for my
country's soldiers," walled one white
haired sutfragist.
Fortunately, all doorkeepers were not
so strict, else one of the finest ora
torical touches Of the day would have
had no foundation in fact. Representa-
tive Campbell. of Kansas, pointing to
the galleries, said:
"The women in these galleries to- day
are working for the soldiers. The men
aren't. The men are idly listening to
this debate. but the women are doing
something for the comfort Of our men.
The crowd around the door of the
Speakers gallery, to which Mrs Gait
and Dr. Shaw had received special
invitation by Mr.. Clark, was so dense
! that these two greatest leaders of the
cause had to stand in line an hour
before they were allowed admission by
a doorkeeper who doubted their Gre
dentials.
The suFragists' joy was looscned a
little by an hours rest and dinner. The
suffrage clubhouse in Connecticut Ave-
nue. bu2zed with rejoicing all the even
ing.
DR.. Anna Shaw came out of her daze
to announce in her old. ringing voice:
1--WE been working twenty four hours
day for the government. Now am
so happy I could work thirty-six
When people mention the name of
Abraham Lincoln to-day the first
thought that enters everybody's mind
is that he was the emancipator of the
slaves. In future generations, when
the name Of Wilson is mentioned, the
worlds thought will be that the women
were enfranchised during his admin
istraton and largely through his as
sistnnce. People forget war and the
incidents OF war; but they never forget
great forward step in human free
DOM"
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait. president
of the National American Woman Suf-
trage Association, gave every body an
hour to rejoice and then she called a
meeting of the suffrage lobby.
Plans for the vote in the Senate and
the ratification by the states were dis
cussed. The suffrage clubhouse will be
retained until after the Senate vote,
| and then headquarters will be estab-
lished in st. Louis or Chicago to direct
the ratification.
"We hope New York will be the first
state to ratify our amendment" said
Mrs. Gait. Every few legislatures meet
this year. but next year forty-one viii
meet If all goes we'll women will be
voting in the next Presidential cleo
tlon all over the country"
Praise for Mr.. Mann
Mrs. George Bass. of Illinois. who
was chairman of the Committee on
Western Women for the Democratic
National Committee in the last presi-
dental election, and has been promi-
nent IN suffrage work in Illinois for
many years, was especially happy over
the action of Representative Mann.
I'VE always knew that Mr.. Mann
Was our friend" she said, "but to rise
from sick bed and come to our helm
pale and feeble as he was, was one Of
the most remarkable things man ever
dld tor the cause Of women"
Neither party nor politicians can
claim the victory aa personal or a
party achievement" said Dudley Field
Malone, counsel and Sir Galahad Of the
p'ckets. tonight. Long years of devo-
tion, service and suffering by count
less thousands OF American women
since Susan B. Anthony first offered
the bill to Congress, in 1878. have cre-
ated the public opinion which finally
comp"l He'd the passage of the Federal
ame eNdment.
"Just as the New York victory was
properly credited to the leadership of
Mrs Whitohouse and her co-workers,
the concentrated pressure on the Pres,
ident and Congress during the last five
years by Alice Paul and her colleagues
mas been the greatest factor in this
fight IN Congress-"
"There's glory enough for ALL said
Yrs: Helena Hill Weed tonight. wv e
uoht care care VINO gets It. Our cause is
won. That's what we want"
Another manifestation Of this snir;t
was in the bunch OF flowers sent bv
Mrs. Lawrence Lewis to DR.. Anna How
ard Shaw late this evening. Mrs. Lewis
IS picket, and the pickets have
brought tears of rage and despair to
the eyes of the venerable Dr.. Shaw
many times.