New-York tribune., 1922-04-23
Lady Astor Gets
Great Ovation
I'm Baltimore
transforms I.5OO Weary
Women Delegates at the
Pan-Anlcrican Parlev Into
Laughing, Shouting Mass
Enters at Political Gilman

BY Emma Bugbee

pH A'i lMO kf., April -. NlSCOuntcS
tor brought her smile and enthusi-
asm TO the Pan American conference
for women late this afternoon. Her
radiant presence immediately trans
formed the staid and somewhat weary
delegates concerned with the ramitica-
tons Of suffrage laws into fifteen hun
area Inughlng, shouting. adoring women
tneir eyes bright with the tears of en-
Ihusiasm. their hearts completely in
the keeping Of tho smiling, earnest
little body before them on the plat
form.
Lady Astor conquered them because
I've took sides with them against the
world, so readily. so stanchly. Be
Tor" she had been IN the room half an
hour she had promised to go to South
America next year for the next Pan
American conference and she had flung
an appeal to the Catholic women of
South America not to be discouraged
OV the traditional opposition Of the
Church TO woman suffrage. She had
likewise paid a tribute to the suffrage
pioneers, without whom she declared
she would not be in the House OF Com
mons
Straight from the train which
~ OuRilI IItl from NEW J OIh Lazy AS
tor darted to the suffrage meeting at
the Hotel Belvedere. Mr.. and Mrs
John w. Garrett, whose guest she is
had thought Of taking her TO the races
this afternoon. But Nancy Langhorne
Astor has outgroWn the sport Of her
childhood. She refused to watch horses
when she might say word to boost
the suffrage cause in South America
trr;xoc of DOltfIcoI CItrpax
Lady Astor arrived at the political
climax of the throe-day convention
when Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, presi-
dent Of the international Woman SUI
fraee Alliance, flung down a challenge
to the Catholic Church, declaring that
il was i'm Catholic countries that the
woman movement now found its chief
opposition. The new Pope, she an
nounced, was to be counted as frienc
Of the movement. But in many coun
tries The high Church officials, she said
were still enemies Of the Woman'E
cause
"soon after the new Pope was
elected" she said, the Catholic womer
Of England appealed to him for an in
dorsement of their work, He replied BY
sending his blessing, which means tina
he gives his approval to the cause.
have heard since ] came to Baltimore
that the Pope had sent to Quebec
where there is suffrage campaign, {
message that he did not approve o
woman suffrage. The Pope has sent ne
such word. And | believe that th'
Catholic Church will not impose fur
ther objection TO the further enfran
chisement of women in Catholic coun
tries
Lady Astor Tackles Problem
To all Of this Lady Astor made i'm
puleive responses. Her " Hear hear!
interrupted the optimistic parts, he
little whistle Of dismay, and her whis
pered "Isn't that terrible ?" empha
sized the story Of suffrage troubles
When she arose after Mrs. Gait had in
troduced hcr as the best known won
an in the world day she plunge'
straight into the heart Of the Catholl
problem.
'They tell me that some of the Soutl
American women are antl-suHraglsts, ,
she said. "Well. all | have to say L
that if they are, ! cant imagine VIVA
they are doing here. They say 1t is
difficult time for Catholic women to b.
working for the vote. can't for th
life of me see what the vote has 60
20 do with religion. ! always though
IL was lnc SdNIIS dtC " i'-i' 6ioi ''N
all men and women were equals"
She looked tritle disconnected a
'he shouts of laughter which greete'
this announcement, but plunged o'
with greater Nehemence.
Il always thought that God locke
into our hearts. not at our sexes. II
is the father OF all his children. me-
and women alike. Why, | think it j
terrible thing to think that God
children are divided. instead Of beln
all equal in his sight. Now, those o
YOU who are Catholics, beg Of you t
70 home and explain it that way t
hose who try TO keep YOU back. Don
be discouraged. Press on. The worI
needs YOU One Of your South Amer
can women just now mentioned stat
regulated houses Of vice. | think tina
is the most appalling thing | eve
heard of. Ii shows women must hgh
and fight now
Praises Other Women's Work
She referred to Mrs. Catt's jocula
( introduction to the effect that the lie
porters were more interesed IN he
than in woman suffrage. With fash
ing eyes she turned to the press table
~ Just want those reporters t
( know" she cried, that if it we're no
for woman suffrage | would not b
/ here You hear lot about Lady As
tor and all the fame and glory of be
/ in. the first woman in the House 0
/ Commons. but I tell you there woul
be nothing to it at all if it had no
| been for the wonderful work othe
women did before me. And think (wit
a quick transition to her f1ippant mood
what a disaster to the world
my talents had been hidden IN a two
room cottage instead of shining in tn
| House Of Commons.
"Well, seriously, l mean it. ! Away
have apologized to the English becaus
was the first in Parliament. l neve
forgot what the women all did befor
me, and if it weren't for them
would be nothing. People say to m
that never smashed windows. An
answer | didn't have to. They di
it all. | saw it, though, and helped a
could. But was busy populatln
the world Just then. My friends wen
to prison, though, and went throug
every horror We younger sutfragist
must never forget what they did TO
US. know little bit about what
means to be pioneer. What must
have been for them
no