Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-23
SUFFRAC|STS GET
LITTLE HOPE FROM
G. 0. P. NOMINEE
Harding Refuses to Interfere to
Force Amendment
Through.
MRS. HILLES EMPHATIC

rruntled and dissatisfied, twenty-odd mill
tan,s of the National Woman's Party
the same organization that picketed the
White House-left thirty-two minute
interview with Senator Warren G.. Hard
ing yesterday afternoon.
They hurried away to their head
quarters near the White House, after the
Senator posed with them for picture
makers, and began plans 10 give him some
notoriety before the campaign is over.
Unless he comes across" with some
statement more satisfactory that he made
he may find well organized picketing
SQUAD in Marion, O., upon his home
coming
The militants obtained the interview.
which was behind closed doors, to ascer-
tain what the Senator and his Republican
colleagues would do to obtain special
session of the Vermont or Connecticut
Legislature to supply the thirty-sixth and
final State required for ratification of tho
nineteenth amendment.
Il need not tell you of my interest IN
the consummation of the woman's s suffrage
said Senator Harding, Il voted for 1T IN
the Senate and vote records Senator $
purpose quite rs faithfully as anything he
may do.
Nothing would please me more than
to have ratification made effective to give
American womanhood full participation
IN the elections of next November. This
desire. sincerely spoken does not conflict
with INV determination that l could not
with proprety attempt to force any
state executive to hasten action In viola
ton of his own sense of duty.
There is a point at which full executive
authority may approach trespass on the
tights Of States, and | should not want to
ireSspass if | bore the commission of au
thorlty, and realize full well that, so far,
| am only a party nominee. In the
latter capacity | would not wish my party
To believe me inclined to trespass or to
assume to WELD club. II any State
executive should ask my opinion about
extraordinary efforts to consummate
suffrage. | frankly will commend the
thing YOU desire, but | cannot impose a
demand. though | personally hope to see
women suffrage and women's full psrtici
patton established at an early date,
at was the same old bunk" declared
Mrs. Benigna Green kalb, Of Houston,
Tex. after leaving the Senator's Office.
IL have been covering conventions as a
shorthand reporter for twenty years, and
know something of the inside of things.
He talked to us like we didn't have any
sense. And to think that we had to
swallow a thing like that"
Nl%s. Sophie G. Meredith Of Rich
mond, said, ut is as little as | ever heard. ;"
DEFINITE PLEDGES ASKED
Senator Harding was asked in the meet
ing for definite pledges.
II am listening candidate" be is
quoted as saving. al cannot use a weapon
over the members Of my party"
One of the ladies reloined warmly
eve have had listening candidates all of
our lives"
The Senator WAS also quoted 81 having
said that he wanted Policy above party"
and that II hope the women will always
put Justice above expediency."
Threats of third party by some
women in the delegation apparently
brought surprise to the Republican
candidate.
Mrs. Donald Hooker of Baltimore told
him the women felt new party might
be born if the Republicans did not take
advantage of their opportunity now on
the suffrage question. The Democrats,
ahe said, "have already cooked their
GOOSE"
sAY REPLY WAS EvAsrvE.
Senator Harding's visitors declared
the Senator as evasive and unwilling to
lake & positive stand on their request as
on other public matters. Complete dis
appointment with Senator Harding's
position on suffrage" is the way the
National Woman's Party headquarters
sum up the results Of the visit tonight
Miss Alice Paul, chairman of the |
National Womans Party, scored him on |
the interview, Ii statement issued to- |
night by the partys press chairman, Mrs |
Florence B. Boeckel:
II can hsrsily believe that candidate /
nominated on q specific platform could, |
within two weeks after that platforms /
formal adoption, declare himself unable |
to do anything to induce subordinate
members of his party to carry out one of
the Platforms principal planks.
docs the Republican platform, winch
commits the party to immediate ratifca-
lion of the suffrage amendment, have so
httle weight With Senator Harding that
he cannot even request State governor
10 cease constructing this platform?
The Republican party is now In power
n Vermont. Ii 1t cannot carry out its
platform there, what reason is there to
mppose that if placed in power through
sut the nation it would fulfill its platform
promises?
''Our delegation to him today was the
hrst step IN campaign to bring home to
him and to convey his responsibility as
head of his party for action on the suffrage
amendment. Until he recognizes his
responsibility and acts effectively upon it,
ge shall not be content"
Various women who made statements
TO Senator Harding argued to the effect
hat the women's vote, at present un-
attached and non-partisan, would be sway
ed In the coming elections by the action
Of either party to complete the suffrage
struggle.
Almost painfully polite" is phrase
used by the National Woman's PARTY In |
describing Senator Harding's attitude.
When Senator Harding stated that if any
State executive should ask his opinion
about extraordinary efforts to consum-
mate suffrage" that he would commend
the thing the women desire, he added:
Il have suspicion that the advice which
might come with propriety will be sought !"
EXPECT "GooD NEWS"
" DO YOU mean," said Miss Paul ''that
you expect TO have good news on the
suffrage question:"
"Ies, said Senator Harding.