The least tribute we can pay them is to make them the equals of men in political rights as they have proved themselves their equals in every field of practical work they have entered, whether for themselves or for their country. These great days of completed achievement would be sadly marred were we to omit that act of justice. Besides the immense practical services they have rendered, the women of the country have been the moving spirits in the systematic economies by which our people have voluntarily assisted to supply the suffering peoples of the world and the armies upon every front with food and everything else that we had that might serve the common cause. The details of such a story can never be fully written, but we carry them at our hearts and thank God that we can say that we are the kinsmen of such. This was the first time that any President ever mentioned Suffrage as a part of his administrative program. It was a step forward. The women waited ten days to see whether he would follow this message with action. The President sailed for France. When the Woman’s Party discovered from the Administration leaders that he had left no orders to have Suffrage carried out, they decided to hold another protest meeting. “In carrying on a campaign for Democracy abroad and utterly ignoring it at home,” Alice Paul said, “he has exposed his whole broadside to our attack.” As always, whenever possible, the Woman’s Party announced their protest meeting through the newspapers. Lucy Branham went to Police Headquarters. She explained her errand, asking for a permit. “Here’s your permit!” Colonel Ridley said. Lucy Branham made further explanation, “We are going to burn the President’s words,” she warned him. “Here’s your permit!” Colonel Ridley said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ XI BURNING THE PRESIDENT’S WORDS AGAIN ON December 16, a woman carrying an American flag, emerged from Headquarters. Behind her came a long line of women bearing purple, white, and gold banners. Behind them came fifty women bearing lighted torches. Behind them came women—more women and more women and more women. Always a banner’s length apart they marched and on they came ... and on ... and on ... and on.... People who saw the demonstrations say that it seemed as though the colorful, slow-moving line would never come to an end. Witnesses say also that it was the most beautiful of all the Woman’s Party demonstrations. They marched to the Lafayette Monument. Their leader, Mrs. Harvey Wiley, stopped in front of a burning cauldron which had been placed at the foot of the pedestal. The torch bearers formed a semi-circle about that cauldron. The women with the purple, white, and gold banners—who were the speakers—grouped themselves around the torch bearers.