Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-28
SENATOR SMOOT
ADMITS DEFEAT Of
SUFFRAGE HOSTS
Makes Statement Following
Announced Opposition of
Senator Benet.
MAKES COUNTER-CHARGE
OF PLAY IN POLITICS

The defeat of the woman suffrage
ernoon ON the floor of the Senate
by Senator Smoot of Utah, one Of
the prominent suffrage leaders. His
statement was made after Sem
ator Benet OF South Carolina in
his maiden speech announced that
he would vote against the resolu-
tiOn. He was one of the thirty
one democrats counted upon to
support the resolution.
The fact that he will not makes
81 assured votes against the suf-
fragc resolution. 1t cannot car
~ If there are more than ;:
against it.
Senator Smoot charged that Sem
ator Pittman OF Nevada was play
ing politics yesterday when he said
that the republicans had trickcd
the democrats with a promise Of
81 votes for the resolution. lie
asked where were the 81 demo-
cratic votes. in the light of Senator
Benct's announcement. which Sem
ator Pittman has pledged.
When the Senate met today the suf-
frage leaders had practically aban-
doned their plan to keep that body in
continuous session to force a. vote on
the woman suffrage resolution. 1t
has been learned that Senator Gofr OF
West Virginia, a suffrage supporter
has been compelled to go out of town
for medical treatment and would not
be back until Monday. Also Senator
La Toilette, who is coming to Wash
ington to vote for the suffrage resolu-
tion. is not expected to reach here
until after o'clock today.
The anti-suffrage senators. how
ever. Immediately began their f1libus-
ter tactics. They insisted upon having
y .
read and when a request was made
that the Presidents speech in New
York last night be printed as a public
document Senator Lodge said he had
no objection, but that he desired i,
read to the Senate, which took up fur
tner time.
Senate in Angry Mood.
When the Senate adjourned las,
evening with the suffrage resolution
still pending it was in an angry mood
The suffragists insisted that there
should be session of the Senate to.
day, while the anti-suffragists urged
that an adjournment be taken until
Monday. Senator La Toilette Of Wis.
consin, the impaired suffrage senator
is to arrive here at 4:30 o'clock this
afternoon, and the suffragists expec,
at that time to muster their utmos,
strength for the resolution. Senate,
Jones of New Mexico. chairman of the
suffrage committee, refused to accedf
to the suggestion of Senator Martin
of Virginia, a leading anti-suffrage
senator, that because various senators
had to be away today to make libert,
loan speeches an adjournment be tax.
en- until Monday.
'Then." said Senator Martin, Il wist
to assure the senator there will be nc
vote before noon Monday on this reso-
luton"
The opponents Of tho resolution be-
gan at once preparing to conduct a
flibuster. assigning time to various
senators to hold the floor until Mon
day noon in case the suffrage sup
porters seek to hold the Senate in
continuous session.
Yesterday afternoon was occupied
by attacks upon the suffragists and
the proposed constitutional amend
ment by Senator Reed, who charged
that the senators had yielded TO fe-
male bossism, the suffrage lobby and
to a defense of the women and the
suffrage resolution by Senator Lewis
of Illinois, who said the only offense
the women had committed was to de-
fcnd their rights. He compared thefl
m.