Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-03

themselves in attempting to avoid
what they supposed to be man in
the street. Besides, if auto drivers
are fooled in that manner few
times they might think it only an
other joke when some person was
really in the road and they might
run over him without even attempt
ing to stop.
There is much talk of making the
ballot shorter and simpler in order
to avoid blunders on the part of the
voter. But if we want to establish
an educational qualification the bal
lot might be an effective instru-
ment. 1t might be made even more
complicated, so complicated that 1t
would require intelligence to mark
it properly. Then require judges to
throw out every ballot that was not
marked exactly as it should be.
That would disfranchise every man
who did not have sense enough to
mark his ballot and the Freeman
Tribune is not sure but that would
be a good way to improve the in
tellectual quality of the electorate.
OF course this is advanced ground,
but perhaps it is worth some consid-
Grafton.
It is yet early to predict what is
in store for the republican party
four years hence. 1t is useless to
talk of winning victories through a
reorganization of the party without
taking into account the millions OF
republicans who voted for Roose-
Welt this year and the other millions
who voted for Taft. The Roosevelt
contingent can, if wise leadership
shall cement it into a harmonious
mass, take possession of the party at
the next national convention. It
has the majority to do that very
thing, but it would meet defeat at
the polls unless something could be
done to pacifiy the Taft following OF
this year. So long as the Opposition
to the democratic party remains d.
vided as at present democracy will
retain control.
The Louisville Courier-Journal
out of the fullness of it's heart and
without enmity to the Wilson ad-
ministration, advises the presi-
dent-elect to send Mr.. Bryan to the
court Of St. James In the judgment
of the CT. the farther apart that
long jaw and "bulging bald spot
are kept the better sailing will the
democratic ship encounter. 1t points
out that when John Randolph OF
Roanoke was considered likely as.
pirant for congress in the old days,
President jackson knew his return
to that body would cause much
trouble to the administration, hence
John Randolph was sent to Russia
to represent this country at st. Pet
ersburg. Old Hickory was something
OF a diplomat as well as a fighter
Wonder If Woodrow will be as wise.
The suggestion of the Freeman
Tribune that women be given the
right to vote upon the saloon ques-
t1On III iowa Ill Inc cfSul vi lhS
passage of the Shankland bill is
meeting with favor among the real
friends of true temperance. The
women are the ones who suffer most
from the saloons and If they have
power to say whether or not saloons
shall exist in community they will
be in position to protect their own
interests whether they will do it or
not. The ballot would be the bet
ter way of settling the question OF
saloon or no saloon and where pub
lie sentiment is opposed to the grog
shop it can be effectively eliminated
If that sentiment has an avenue of
expression. BY all means tack a
rider" upon the Shankland bill CIV
ing the women chance to vote and
then pass the measure.