Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-12-23

ataHy states ana Wnlie IL may De un-
gracious to say so, 1t seems to be the
acknowledged fact of their political
influence which has changed the atti-
tude of many men toward their cause,
Marked Growth of Sentiment.
1t makes no difference how one
views the question of suffrage, the
fact of the growth of sentiment in its
favor is so plain that it cannot be ig-
nored Even in the south, where op-
position has been marked. the women
report progress. In New England,
where the anti-suffrage state organiza-
! lions have been strong and in per.
sistent fighting mood for years. the
suffrage cause is gaining rapidly.
In Maine only two years age there
were few to listen to the cry Votes
for Women" Maine all at once un-
derwent change of manner. Indiffer-
ence became interest and sleepiness
became wakefulness. In one year the
| women of Maine succeeded in winning
to their cause almost majority of the
legislature of the state. They are at
work now trying to make victory a
matter of the near future
In Massachusetts the women suffra-
gists have turned their attention to
the work of defeating for reelection
members of the legislature who op-
pose their cause. Last year there was
majority of the lower house in Mas.
sachusetts in favor of woman suf-
frage, but the majority was not large
enough to secure a submission to the
people OF an amendment to the state
at work again in Massachusetts trying
TO make their victory complete.
In Connecticut the woman suffrage
| movement has gone ahead rapidly in
the last year or two. There were
| certain disclosures of vice conditions
made in the cities of Connecticut
which aroused the women of the state
to action and which they say made
them feel that unless women could get
the ballot the family life was not safe
AS to Presidential Primaries.
President Wilson's recommends
| ton for the selection of candi-
dates for the presidency by means
of general primaries has been the
subject of discussion and actual
controversy among the politicians in
Washington every day since the mes
| sage was written The Republicans
and the Progressives think that they
| see symptoms of alarm in the Demo
cratic ranks over Mr. Wilson's pro-
nouncement
1t is a fact, because the Democrats
I have made it plain, that some of them
| few at any rate, are worried over this
| thing because, as some of them view
| it, the presidential primary in way
would give state like new York with
it's immense population an influence
and power equal to that of eight or
| ten states in the south. This view
of the matter has been set forth by
| Democratic journals in the southern
| states.
Now while some of the Democrats
| of the rank and file are worried over
Mr. Wilson's desires in this matter,
there are chieftains of the party who
seemingly do not worry at all SO far
| as the next national campaign is con.
| cerned, and if they feel any fear 1t is
solely because the primary may be a
stumbling block in the path of ambi-
ton in the far future.
The friends of William J Bryan
! Champ Clark, Oscar w. Underwood
| and other Democratic presidential
possibilities, or probabilities, seem to
! day to look forward to the next cam
paign with eyes that see things only
one way. They say that presidential
primaries or no presidential prima
ries, if Woodrow Wilson's administra
! ton is a success he is bound to be
| renominated and probably elected
| and if it is not success he Will be
renominated just as certainly ant
probably defeated.
1t is a very simple proposition ap
parently as the followers of Mr.
Bryan, Mr.. Clark and Mr.. Underwood
view it, and as probably also the three
| chieftains themselves view it, With
| MI. w llSOu SuCCS65lui III
istration. not one of the three prob
ably thinks that he has a chance fol-
| the nomination, and with Mr. Wilson
unsuccessful not one of them thinks
a Democrat would stand much chance
of election and consequently no one
of them cares to be offered up as 2
sacrifice.
How They See the Future.
| Democrats in congress already are
talking OF the campaign two years
hence. They seem to think that il
| the tariff law works well, if the cur
| rency measure does not founder the
finf ces and il antitrust legislation
does not disrupt business, not only
will Mr.. Wilson be assured of the
nomination, but Clark and Under
come out in public statements en-
dorsing him for denomination and for
reelection. If. this program, pleas.
! ing to the Democrats, and, with its
suggestions of prosperity, unquestion
ably pleasing to the country, shall be
! II pIODdUiy lAlLiC ull
! ference whether Mr. Wilson goes be
fore a popular primary or must de
pend upon old time methods He will
get his second endorsement and his
second nomination II he says the
word of desire.
| There are some of Mr. BTyan's
friends here, however, men who have
| been devoted to him and to his poll
cies from the very beginning, who dc
not look upon the denomination OF
Mr.. Wilson as assured even if his ad
| ministration seems to win for him the
applause OF the party and of the coun
try. Is it possible that Mr.. Bryan
| thinks that the president will not care
to succeed himself? Is it possible that
Mr.. Bryan knows that when the time
comes. his present chief will say the
word which will take him out of the
| field of succession?