of the
Indians. That was the beginning of the end of Indian wars; the
first hope of a possibility--previously sneered at--of making
real and useful citizens of this race of men who now have
Representatives in Congress. It was precisely the same with our
island possessions, only in this case we had profited by our
experience with Indian and labor problems, and it did not take so
long to realize that a committee whose duty it should be to
utilize, develop and conserve the best interests of these new
charges of our Government and to develop them toward citizenship
as rapidly as possible was the safe and sane method of
procedure....

We want such a committee on woman suffrage in the House. We do
not ask you to appoint a partisan committee but only one
open-minded and honest, which will really investigate and
understand the question, its workings where it is in effect--a
committee which will not accept wild statements as facts, which
will hear and weigh that which comes from the side of progress
and change as well as that which is static or reactionary.... The
recommendation that we have such a committee does not in any way
commit you to the adoption of a belief in the principle of
self-government for women. This is not much to ask and it is not
much to give, nor will it be needed for very many more years.

Mrs. Ida Husted Harper was introduced as one of the authors of the
four-volume History of Woman Suffrage and the biographer of Susan B.
Anthony and began: "This is not the time or place to enter into an
argument on the merits or demerits of woman suffrage and we shall use
the valuable hours you have so graciously accorded us simply to ask
that you will give us a committee of our very own, before which we may
feel that we have a right to discuss this question. In making this
request we ask you to decide, first, whether the issue of woman
suffrage is sufficiently national in its character to justify a
special committee for its consideration; second, whether it has been
so fairly treated by the committee which has had it in charge for
forty-four years that another is not necessary; and, third, whether
justice requires that it should come under the jurisdiction of
Congress."

The national status of the woman suffrage movement was sketched and
then the question asked: "Has the treatment of this subject by the
com