hought that the hissing was done by one or more
delegates from the equal suffrage States because of the aspersion cast
on the class of women who were likely to vote. Others believed there
was no hissing but that it was merely an exclamation of "hush" because
of the noise caused by the moving of loose chairs, many in the back
part of the room standing up on them to get a better view. It was,
however, a matter of great concern and regret on the part of the
national officers, who met early the next morning and framed the
following resolution:

WHEREAS the President of the United States in welcoming the
Forty-second Annual Convention of the National American Woman
Suffrage Association has taken the historic position of being the
first incumbent of his office to recognize officially our
determination to secure a complete democracy, thereby testifying
his conviction as to its power and growth, and WHEREAS his
seriousness, honesty and friendliness converted what might have
been an empty form into an official courtesy, historic alike for
him and for us,

THEREFORE be it resolved that we convey to President William H.
Taft the thanks and appreciation of this convention for his
welcome, assuring him at the same time that the patriotism and
public spirit of the women of America intend to make themselves
directly felt in the government of which he is the honored head
and that at no distant date.

This was adopted at the morning's session of the convention by a
unanimous rising vote. At the opening of the afternoon session Dr.
Shaw said: "I think one of the saddest hours that I have ever spent in
connection with one of our national conventions I spent last night
after the occurrence of an incident here for which none of the
officers of this association bears the least responsibility and we
trust none of the delegates needs to bear any of it, when there was a
dissent made to an utterance of President Taft. It seemed to us a most
unwise and ungracious act and we feel the keenest possible regret over
it. Because of this the Official Board has prepared a letter to the
President expressing our regret that the occurrence should have taken
place, whether by a member of this body or by a visitor. It is
impossible to control a great public audience individually and an
organization is not responsible for everything which takes place in
its public meetings. While I