The New York herald., 1922-05-22
PRESIDENT RUFFLES
WOMEN BY ABSENCE
AT SUFFRAGE Shrine
Sends Letter by Messenger
Revoking Engagement to
Attend Dedication.
KIND GREETING IN 1T
Harding Makes No Explana-
ton and Stays Indoors
All Afternoon.
RADIO SERVICE REFUSED
Speeches Of Three Members of
Congress Not Wirelessed-
10000 at Ceremony.
RADIO SERVICE REFUSED
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c.. Nav 2l


New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c.. May 81.
President Harding sent letter by
special messenger to-day declining an
invitation he previously had accepted
to be present at tho formal dedication
this afternoon Of the new headquar-
ters Of the National Womens party.
He mentioned no reason. but the
women were so ruf3led tonight that
they made public as deadly paral-
lel' the letter Of acceptance and that
OF declination.
Coming as /. did on top Of Acting
Secretary Roosevelts refusal, after
what the party workers declared had
been promise by Secretary of the
Navy DENLY, to permi. use OF the
navy wireless for broadcasting the
speeches delivered at the dedication.
the incident centering around Mr..
Harding caused something more than
a stir. The women were aroused be-
cause at the last minute they lost the
two chief attractions arranged for the
ceremonies-Mr. Harding and the
radio privilege.
Inquiry at the White House brought
no explanation of Mr.. Harding's de-
cision not to attend the celebration.
He was not Ill, 1t was said, and had no
special engagements. This morning
he attended services at Calvary Bap-
tist Church. OF which he Is a unomber.
He remained indoors all afternoon.
Kind Greeting I'm Letter.
Mr.. Harding's letter to the women
contained a very kindly greeting. II
was addressed to Mrs. John Gordon Bat
tel!e of Columbus, Ohio. chairman OF the
reception committee. This is the text of
the Presidents letter:
When you invited me. many weeks
ago. to be In attendance at the dedi-
cation of the national headquarters
of the National Woman's party. to
be held on Sunday. May 81. 1922. the
invitation was accepted. i am writ
ing to say II will not be. possible to be
present.
I share with you and your asso-
ciates rejoicing in the enfranchisc-
ment of the women of the United
States. and very truly wish that the
larger opportunity for American
womanhood will be marked by the
highest ideals. lofty patriotism. noble
Inspirations and great good to our
common country.
Although the letter was dated May
20 Saturday, It did not reach the
headquarters of the Woman's Party un-
til o'clock this afternoon, Just before
the ceremonies were to start. So con-
fident had the women been that Mr..
Harding would attend that Mrs. Battelle
was preparing to call for him In her
automobile when she was informed that
It would be impossible for Mr.. Harding
to attend and that letter had been sent
to her stating the fact.
MissIve OF December.
Mrs Battelle was just as much sur
prised as anybody. She told the other
officers OF the organization that she had
been at the White House at luncheon
yesterday and that Mr. Harding even
then had expected to attend. As evil
dence that Mr.. Harding had agreed to
be there she produced letter dated De-
cember % signed by Secretary Chris
tian. This letter. later made public with
that declining the invitation, read:
MI Dear Mrs. Bnttelfe: am writ
ing to confirm the appointment made
by the President to attend the dedi-
cation and laying Of the corner stone
of the building OF the National
Woman's party at 3 o'clock Sunday
afternoon. May 81, 1922.
Sincerely yours.
GEORGE b. CHRISTIAN, JR..
Secretary to the President
The party leaders were at loss to
understand why Mr.. Harding had
changed his mind so suddenly. While he
had not agreed to speak at the meeting
II had been their hope that he might
have something to say. but they doubted
II tho prospect OF making speech
should have caused the action. They
were wondering also IL the row they got
into yesterday with Acting Secretary
Roosevelt had anything to do with It.
Secretary RooseveIt's Action.
All arrangements had been made for
simultaneous meetings In different parts
Of the country to hear the speeches to
be sent broadcast by means Of the navy
radio. Mr.. Roosevelt set his foot down
on the program on the ground that IL
would be a violation OF Secretary
Denbys recent order denying the radio
facilities for sending out political
speeches. To the assertion that Mr..
DENLY had promised the use Of the radio
Mr. Roosevelt replied there must have
been a n,isunderstandlns--t the mat
ter merely had been taken under consid-
Grafton.
I'D to tho last minute the women
hoped that the order might be revoked
by Mr. DENLY himself by wireless from
the ship carrying him to Japan. But no
such message came and the speeches to-
day were not broadcast
The building. which stands near the
Capitol. to be used as the headquarters
OF the legislative activities Is historical
In that 1t served as the meeting place
Continued on Page Seven.
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