New-York tribune., 1920-02-14

Inc tresldentS telegram was read at
the close of victory demonstration"
such as the sedate annals of woman
suffrage never before recorded Gray
haired women marched through the
room, blowing tiny yellow horns, their
wrinkled cheeks puffed crimson and
the tears glistening in their eyes.
"Woman's Liberty BelP'
Over their heads "woman's liberty
bell' pealed the end of the fifty-one
suffrage. The shrill tones of the small
bell unloosed the tomboy in those
austere women, who at other suffrage
conventions have done nothing more
hilarious than pass resolutions and
listen TO the slow-moving chapters of
their long history.
To-day they jumped on chairs, wav-
ing yellow flags and blew their horns
in their neighbors' faces. They
terical little snatches of the Doxology
and GLORY, Glory, Hallelujah."
Th merrymaking reached its climax
when a procession appeared headed by
the figures of a donkey and an e!e-
phant. They bowed to right and left
as the 1000 women greeted them with
redoubled horn power and then made
their way to the platform, where they
pompously offered hand to Mrs Gait.
She shook hands with each gravely,
while the convention rocked with
laughter and every one Of the 1000
delegates watched her face for an ex-
preston of her preference as to po-
litical party.
Embraces the Elephant
The great game of this convention
is watching the two political parties
vie with each other for the women's
favor, and especially for Mrs. Catt's
Endorsement. With perfectly grave
face, however, she passed the two
party mascots on to Miss Mary Gar.
rett Hay who threw her arms around
the neck of the elephant, but gave the
donkey the handshake of diplomacy.
supplied the motive power for the ele-
phant and Mrs. Mary Semple Scott for
Next Mrs. George Geilhorn, presi-
dent of the Missouri League of Women
Voters, jumped on chair and shouted
to the crowd to join with her in recit-
ing the pledge to the flag. The horns
were hushed; American flags were
Praised, and still standing on thei-
children are taught to raise them. the
suffragists repeated: ~ pledge alleg-
lance to my flag and to the country
for which it stapds."
The New York delegation, headed by
Mrs. Frederick Nathan, attracted a.
tention by starting little local propa-
ganda.
Nathan, her hands cupped before her
lips, while she strove to make herself
heard above the uproar. "Who led the
No,,, NeIv XOrklV
Then they all stood up on their
chairsNMrs. Frank vanderlip, Mrs.
james Lees Laidlaw, Mrs. Louis Slade,
Miss Adella Potter, Mrs. William G.
Wilcox and DR.. Katharine B. Davis
and repeated their boast in unison.
1t was three-quarters of an hour be-
fore Mrs. Gait could quiet the women
sufficiently to carry on the business OF
the convention, and, as this business
was telegram sending thanks to
President Wilson for his good wishes,
it was only signal for more skylarK-
ing; ~ 49,. no+ nraer the illu.
sion that we vote with horns," she
cried in despair, as the women ignored
her call for ayes and noes, and merely
went on footing.
Kindly pack up 7eur horns ia your
old handbags" she mashed again.
Oldest Suffragist There
In the front row enjoying the tunhult
{ aftened, perhaps, a bit by her ear
trumpets), was the oldest delegate to
the convention, Mrs. Helen Aiken
Starrett, of Portland, Ore, eighty
years old, the only surviving delegate
to the first national suffrage conven-
tion held in Washington in 1853.
Another delegate, Mrs. Mary F.
Rundy, is also eighty years old. while
Alice Stone Blackwell, daughter. OF
Lucy Stone. has the distinction OF hav-
ing attended thirty annual conventions,
oldest suffragists In the country and q
pioneer woman minister, took part IN
the victory demonstration. a plctur-