The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-12-26

their support. They were given pa
tient hearing by committee OF con
gress. Women can now vote In a goot
many states and while 1t may be un
gracious TO say so. 1t seems to be tbs
acknowledged fact of their politica
influence which has changed the atti
tude of many men toward their cause
Marked Growth Of Sentiment.
It makes no difference how one
views the question OF suffrage, the
fact of the growth of sentiment In itt
favor is so plain that 1t cannot be ig
nored Even in the south, where op
position has been marked, the womer
report progress. In New England
where the antisuffrage 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 a 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 q
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 OPP
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
people Of an amendment to the state
constitution. The women already are
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 tie 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 Ia fact, because the Democrats
have made 1t plain. that some of them,
few at any rate, are worried over this
thing because, as some of them view
II, the presidential primary in way
would give state like new York with
Its 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 soutl q
states.
Now vile 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 IL they feel any fear it 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 1t is not success he will be
just as certainly and
defeated.
1t is very simple proposition ap
as the followers of Mr.
Bryan, Mr.. Clark and Mr.. Underwood
view 1t. and as probably also the three |
themselves view it. With |
Mr., Wilson successful In his admin. |
istration, not one of the three prob.
ably thinks that he has a chance for
the nomination, and with Mr.. Wilson
unsuccessful not one of them thinks
Democrat would stand much chance
OF election and consequently no one
OF them cares to be offered ND as a
sacrifice.
How They See the Future.
Democrats in congress already are
talking of the campaign two Years
hence. They seem to think that If
the tariff law works well, If the cur.
rency measure does not founder the
finances and If antitrust legislation
Toes not disrupt business. not only
will Mr.. Wilson be assured Of the
nomination. but Clark and Hinder.
wood, following the lead Of Bryan. will
some out in public statements ON.
iorsing him for denomination and for
reelection. II this program. Meas.
ng to the Democrats. and with its