Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-12-25
CHANCE FOR WOMEN
CONGRESS MAY HEAR THEM IF
1T HAS TIME TO CARRY OUT
PLATFORM PLEDGES.
MUCH NOW ACCOMPLISHED
Democrats Are Likely to Follow Up
Their Antitrust Legislation With
Some Law Directed Against
High Cost of Living.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

sumo Law directed Against
High Cost of Living.
By GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-It is probable that a
report soon viii be made to President
Wilson by the Democratic leaders in
house and senate in order that he may
know with something like defniteness
how long il will take. with his zone
thing at time" intention, to secure
everything which his party pledged
itself and him to secure if the people
should give them commissions TO legis-
late for four years. Although the
Democrats under the Wilson guidance
have refused to bunch legislation,
they have accomplished considerable
already. but whether the accomplish
ment has been for good or for i'll of
course there has not yet been time
enough to determine.
When the suffragists called at the
White House and President Wilson in
effect told them that he could not say
anything to congress about their case,
because il was not mentioned either
approvingly or disapprovingly in the
Democratic platform, he made it plain
that he intends to stick to the Baltl-
more platform and not to depart from
its advice and its recommendation
unless necessities so shape themselves
that he must. With all the signs that
are in view it seems likely, however,
in the face of the presidents attitude,
towards the suffragists, that if the
really big things of Democratic prom
Use can be put on the law books the
women will be given their day in the
court of congress before this admins
trauion is eighteen months older
First the Trust Problem.
1t is probable that the presidents
message or rather his address to con-
gress on the trust problem, will be
delivered some time in the second
week of January. Then the approval
of committees must be given to the
antitrust legislation and the subject
must be debated in house and senate.
From what men of all parties say
about it, it seems likely that month
and half of winter and as much Of
the glad spring will pass before the
president will get a chance to sign the
bill which will make guilt personal
and will make certain that the big
fellows go to jail
If the Sherman law is bulwarked
with Democratic legislation by April
Is, there will be time enough left for
the Democrats to take up one or two
other matters of platform promises
and to put them in fulfillment shape
As soon as antitrust matters are out
of the way the Democrats intend to
authorize the building of a govern
ment railroad in Alaska.
In checking up the plank of the
Democratic platform of 1912, it is
found that accomplishment marks al
ready have been placed by the Demo
Gratis against the tariff reform plank.
the income tax and popular election of
senators planks, campaign contribu-
tons, physical valuation of railroads
and banking legislation. If congress
shall sit until June it is probable that
in addition to antitrust and Alaska
legislation, a rural credit system will
be established, that some provision
will be made for the control of the
Mississippi river and that something
will be done with the party's promise
of an immediate declaration of the
nations purpose to recognize the indie
pundence of the Philippine Islands.
High Cost Of Living.
The second plank in the Democratic
platform is recognized by every mem
Der Of congress, Democrat, Republican
and Progressive, as being the most i'm
pCrtant one from the peoples point Of
view in the whole legislative pro-
nouncement. It is entitled The High
Cost of Living" From time to time
individual Democrats, acting however
without party authority, have intro
duced into house and senate bills and
resolutions of various kinds looking
to a reduction in the cost Of food,
clothing, household goods and other
things usually accounted necessarfes.
Some of these bills and resolutions
have been Of the freak kind and no
serious attention has been paid to
them.
The leaders of the Democratic party
promised that the tariff would reduce
the cost Of living. Prices have not
yet come down, but the plea is made
that the law has not yet been in effect
long enough to produce results. In
the Democratic platform it was said
that the trusts and commercial con
spiracies also acted to keep up the
high price of living. An antitrust
law will be passed this winter and
then the Democrats apparently expect
that this law with the tariff law will
bring the price bird off its roost.'
1t is becoming evident, however,
from the unrest among some of the
Democrats that an attempt OF some
kind will be made to supplement the
antitrust law with some, other kind
Of law which may act directly to re-
duce the cost Of things which men,
women and children must have in
order to live. In brief the Democrats
still regard the high cost of living
problem as the one great problem to
be solved In order to make certain the
continuance of the party in power.
Excited Over Precedence Dispute.
Take currency legislation. anti
trust problems, government built
railroads, independence for the Fill
pinos, Mexico and half a dozen 9th
er things which have been centers for