The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-04-22

importance, but wlthal having some slg-
ni6cance, was the address of the Presi-
dent to the leaders of the National
Woman's Suffrage Association in this
city. The President did not squarely
take issue with the propaganda, but
expressed some doubt as to the ulti-
mate results of the enfranchisement of
sex. These doubts were perhaps justi-
fed from his long study and observation
of male suffrage and from his knowledge
that the man best qualified 10 vote most
frequently had his vote cancelled by the
worst qualified voter. He knows, as does
every statesman, that suffrage is at best
q makeshiit and that until combined
psychometer and phrenometer shall be
invented which will accurately take stock
of the mind and morals of the voter and a
law be passed that will enable mans
vote to weigh according to his stock of
sense and soul, popular suffrage cannot
be more than laundering, clumsy in
strument for the attainment of wisdom
and purity in government. It is the mis-
take of few hundred or perhaps few
thousand good women to imagine that
they have in suffrage panacea for the
cure of bad government. They have not
thought enough or gone deep, enough
historically or philosophically into the
subject. Well, Mr.. Taft tried to tell
them something of this kind, although
he would not have dared TO have
spoken ont as plainly as Your humble
correspondent, and his gentle advice was
received with Kisses and cat calls, almost
under the caves Of the White House,
from the ladies in the audience, who
showed that they were no more polite
than men and even less reverential.
Whatever may be said against the Pres
ident, he is man and gentleman. IF
these ladies had called on DR.. Samnel
johnson, they would doubtless have been
received with the "Fiddle de de, my
dears." in which he replied TO deputa-
ton of ladies who congratulated him on
the publication of Rasselas. Today it is
said the responsible members of the
National Woman's Suffrage League are
trying to throw the responsibility for the
impoliteness upon unattached female
hoodlums in the audience.
~
The s.,neb kf.l -
Washington memorial in the shape of q
great forum or hall to be used by visiting
delegations and congresses from all parts
of the United States and the world is
proceeding successfully. The structure
is to be known as the George Washing
ton Memorial Building. Tentative plans
for the building, which will contain an
immense auditorium seating not less than
Eve thousand people, and a number of
smaller halls to be used by scientific and
literary and patriotic societies, have been
submitted. 1t is also proposed that future
inaugural balls shall be held in this
memorial building.
+" Indications point to the adoption by
Congress of the two battleship program.
Senator Hale of Maine, strenuous CD.
ponent Of big ships, it is thought will not
oppose them this year, and the sentiment
for these colossal ships is strong in the
House of Representatives. There was
much talk in the early part of the session
about an empty treasury and that 1t was
needful to be economical There has
recently been little talk Of this kind. The
revenues of the government are rapidly
increasing under the present tariff.
rs
There was much talk in the early part
of the session about an extensive water
ways program. Senator Burton of. Ohio,
than whom no one better understands
the inland navigation situation, has fled
minority report on the>Rivers and Har-
bors Bill. \It will be remembered that
Senator Burton was for many years head
of the Rivers and Harbors Committee of
the lower House. He there acquired q
more thorough knowledge at first hand
of the rivers and harbors schemes in the
United States than any other man. What
he knows about waterways in this coun-
try and Europe he has gained by pro-
found investigation or at FIRST hand. In
short, he is an authority and probably
better entitled to be heard than any man
in the United States. In his minority
report he depounces squarely what he
calls ''dribbliug policy in appropria-
tons for harbor and river purposes. He
is opposed to the system making lot Of
small piece-meal appropriations instead
Of those snficientlyflarge for the compile
ton Of the work. But the most notable
feature Of his minority report relates 10
the conflict between urafer ard ~.,l-y..,,