New-York tribune., 1918-05-11
Two Votes Still Lacking.
Suffrage Bill Is Held Up

vote at this session, and when it
comes up some some Senators so iubi-
liant to-day will laugh on the other
side Of their faces
Reed Denounces Delay
Senator Reed, of Missouri, began
again:
"After notice has been solemnly
given and Senators have travelled five
and six hundred miles to get here, the
chairman blandly announces that there
VIII be no vote until victory is GER
tain. Are the Senators to be required
to dance attendance on this bill all the
session? Are we to be summoned for
the vote, on the chance that somebody
will die or somebody will become i'll,
SO that they may pass it? We are ali
ready Tor a vote -day-ready with
our towels and sponges"
In the Corridors, after the subject
was finally allowed to drop, the Sena-
tors were besieged by sunrragists anx-
lous to know what they could do to
change the minds of the two obstinate
members.
President Wilson, it was pointed out,
had come out for suffrage the night
before the vote was taken in the
House of Representatives on January
10, but had done nothing for the Sen
ate.
Urges Pressure at Home
II am not prepared to say that he is
not doing anything" answered Sens
tor Jones. az believe, however, that
we can win sufficient votes by agitation
IN the home states of the members" F."
Senator Curtis said that seven Sen
ators had been won over to suffrage
hot u,
few others could be won before the
end of the session. On January 10
the Republicans had only twenty mine
favorable votes in the Senate, and they
now have thirty-two. The Democrats
had twenty-five and now have twenty
nine. There are eleven Republicans
against it and one doubtful. There are
twenty Democrats against it and three
doubtful. Senator Curtis refused to
say who the doubtful Republican was.
but from other sources it was learned
that he was Senator Sutherland, of
West Virginia.
Senator Curtis declared that there
would be no attempt on the part of
Republicans to make political capital
out of the suffrage crisis.
III we wanted to embarrass the Dem
ocrats," he said, eve could have forced
vote on this to-day We had our
twothirds, and if it had been defeated
the blame would have rested on. Demo
cratic shoulders. We do not want to
play politics with this, however, We
want to win votes for women.
"fhe responsibility rests with the
Democrats, of course. They are the
party in power, and they have indorsed
woman suffrage in their party plat
form and profess great friendship for
IT, with their great power they ought
TO put 1T through. | am glad the fail
ure to-day does not rest upon the Re-
publican party"
Republicans Were Ready
Chairman Hays of the Republican
National Committee made similar
statement tonight.
-, The facts speak for themselves.
The Republicans were there. Their
votes were ready" he said. "More than
two-thirds of their members stood
pledged and willing to support The
amendment. The delay is not due to
the Republican side. The Democrats
lace the responsibility of having post
ponel this measure of justice and nroo-
ress." He
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait. president
OF the National American Woman Sufe
trage Association, said:
;, There Is nothing discouraging about
the present situation. We have nlans
Tor reaching the doubtful Senator'S
put naturally we shall not reveal them
TO the Senator'S beforehand. One thino
IS certain: Suffrage is going throuoh
ana ~ is gong through at this ses.