Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-06-18
WILSON FOR WORLD
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Urges Passage Of Federal
Amendment BY The Senate
At This Session.
REV ARD FOR WORK.
His Statement Is In Reply To
French Women. World Owes
Them Debt.

President Wilson again has thrown
the weight of his influence into the
balance for the federal woman suf-
frage amendment He expressed the
hope that the Senate would act ia
vorably at this session on the resolu-
tion for submission of the amendment
to the States, passed by the House last
January after he had given his in
dorsement
When a delegation headed by Mrs.
Carrie Chapman Gait, President of
the National Woman Suffrage Associa-
ton, and DR.. Anna Howard Shaw hon
orary president, called at the White
House, the President read to them a
reply he asked Mrs. Gait To transmit
to memorial presented him from the
French Union for Woman Suffrage.
The French suffragists asked Mr.. Will
son to proclaim the principle of
woman suffrage one of the funda-
mental rights of the future. His re-
ply follows:
81 have read your message with the
deepest interest and | welcome the
opportunity to say that I agree with
out reservation that the full and sim
cere democratic reconstruction of the
world for which we are striving, and
which we are determined TO bring
about at any cost, will not have been
completely or adequately attained un-
til women are admitted to the suffrage.
and that only by that action can the
nations of the world realize for the
benefit of future generations the full
ideal force of opinion, or the full hui
name forces of action.
"The services of women during this
supreme crisis of the worlds history
have been of the most signal useful
ness and distinction. The war could
not have been fought without them, or
it's sacrifices endured. 1t is high time
that some part of our debt of graft
tude to them should be acknowledged
and paid, and the only acknowledge
ment they ask is their admission to
the suffrage. Can we justly refuse it ?
AS for America, it is my earnest hope
that the Senate of the United States
will give an unmistakable answer to
this question by passing the suffrage
amendment to our Federal Constitu-
tion before the end of this session"
In their memorial the French suf-
fragists said:
THE French suffragists and those
of the Allied countries have heard your
beautiful and strong words and they
unite in prayer to you for the accom-
plishment of the following resolution:
I,nf !, Sc
there has come a new international
right founded upon the right of peo-
pies to self-determination.
"That nothing can be claimed to
speak authoritatively in the name of
the people which excludes women
from the life of nations.
Considering moreover that women
during the actual conflict have shown
the value of the social work which
they are capable of performing.
Considering that the participation
of wives and mothers in the suffrage
would be the greatest guarantee of
the peace to come, the need that the
belligerent countries have of their
help in the present conflict, the SUI
ferings, moral as well as physical,
which this war has cost them, have
given definite proof that no longer,
without iniquity and imprudence, can
one refuse to give them through their
vote an influence in the undertakings
which decide peace and war.
"The women of the Allied countries
express the wish that President Will
son in one of his future messages will
proclaim the principle of woman suf-
frage one of the fundamental rights
of the future"