New-York tribune., 1919-02-11
DR.. Shaw Still Optimistic


The women who have labored long
est and hardest for the suffrage cause
did not enter into the party issue to-
night, but merely buckled on the armor
of optimism which has kept them dill
gent for half a century. Dr.. Anna
Howard Shaw, venerable leader OF the
women's army, witnessed the defeat
again to-day from seat in the gallery
given over to Suffragists. Later She
said:
"While the idea of the divine right
of kings is being abolished in the world
we of the new world present the ridic-
ulous spectacle of still cinging to the
absurd notion of the divine right Of
the male sex.
at is to be regretted that the United
States Congress has failed TO measure
up to the spirit of democracy expected
of it by all the world. Soon we shall
be IN the humiliating position of admit
ting that ours is the only one of the
great nations of the earth denying JUS
tice to its women. When the Civil
War was raging the women of this
country were appealed to for help in
struggle toward making this land
of the free in more than name only.
During the present war just ended
they were constantly urged to rally
people. Their patriotism, loyalty and
service have stood every test. They
have cheerfully done their part, as they
always will when their country calls.
1t is not our intention now to surren-
der nor remove ourselves form the
scene OF action. We shall fight on with
redoubled vigor until victory has been
achieved and the women of America
given their rightful place in the nation
for which they stand ready to give
their all"
Mrs. Gait Predicts Victory
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait. president
of the National American Woman Suf-
fragc Association and also of the In
ternational Woman Suffrage Alliance
said tonight:
at is not the women, it is the nation
that is dishonored.
"Ihe whole country stands shamed
before the world, victimized by a small
reactlonary minority that holds Amer
lea back from her rightful place
among the standard bearers of democ-
racy. During the last ten days two
states, Indiana and Vermont, have
given women presidential suffrage. This
adds another 100000 women to the
J 100000 over voting age in the states
where women viii vote for the next
President cf the United States.
"The 6eth Congress viii pass the
amendment. The obstructionists of the
65th know that. But to secure little
futile delay these misrepresentation
arc willing to betray the people.
"On the 10000 600 women of the
country entitled to vote for the next
President of the United States, the
Senate's igncble fasco is sure to act
both as challenge and as stimulus"
Miss Alice Paul, chairman of the Ma
tlonal Woman's Party, which burned
President Wilson in efigy in front of
the White House yesterday, was the
only person in Washington apparently
who had not given up all hope of a
suffrage victory at the hands of the
present Congress.
"a little more than three weeks re-
main for the present Congress-" she
SAID. 'ln less than that time czars
have been deposed and dynasties have
fallen. 1t ought to be possible to
change the mind cf one Senator in that
time"
No Chance This Session
The womans party lobby was on the
job this afternoon planning the ways
and means. of bringing the amendment
up again IN case there should seem to
be any excuse for it within the coming
three weeks. Senator Jones, however,
said he would not bring it up again.
When the amendment was defeated on
Octobed /. Senator Jones changed his
vote from yes to no. in order to be
able to move for reconsideration, such
move necessarily coming from one
who had voted negatively. He made
no such change of vote to-day.
The disappointment of the suffra-
gists tonight centres in the fact that
their bin must now be reintroduced
before both Houses of the new Con-
grcss. 1t is not known whether the
new Congress will convene in March.
Unless Congress does convene at
once, and unless the suffrage amend
ment is given right of way and is
rushed through both Houses at the
earliest possible date, it cannot be re-
ferred to the Legislatures of the states
for ratification this spring. Next
spring only few Legislatures will be
in session, and it will be impossible to
obtain ratification by the necessary
thirty-six states before the President
ial elections. The prophecy of Mrs.
Carrie Chapman Gait last January,
that women would be voting all over
the United States by 1920 hangs on
very slender thread tonight