Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-04-30

not kept faith in its treaty-making,
and therefore could not be trusted to
stand by its diplomatic word in the
future. Mr.. Wilson, the men Of all
parties now seem to think, felt that
in future treaty-making the charge Of
faithlessness in this matter, whether
1t was properly grounded or not, would
be laid up against this country and
that 1t would be much harder to make
proper treaties in the future than it
has been in the past.
Think Wilson Made Mistake.
It should be said, however, that
there are many Democrats in con-
gress who are standing by the presi-
dent in his endeavor to secure the re-
peal Of the tolls exemption provision
who think and who say that the pres
ident would have had much easier
sailing with his party if he had left
out all reference to possible foreign
trouble, and had confined himself to
the setting forth of one reason only
why repeal should be forthcoming.
1t is not intended to intimate that
these party men are right, but it ought
not to be uninteresting to let it be
known what they say on this subject,
for it must be remembered that the
Democratic party in the house and
senate is divided on the question of
the wisdom of carrying out the presi-
dents recommendation for repeal.
Some of the Democrats who are sup
porting the president say they are dis
appointed in the manner of the
course which he took, rather than
with the course itself. The Demo
cratic platform, it will be remembered,
declared for tolls exemption, and now
the president is asking the repeal Of
the law which provides for the exemp-
ton. Some of the Democrats say
that if the president simply had de-
clared that tolls exemption was really
a subsidy thinly disguised, and that
good Democratic doctrine demanded
no subsidies should be granted, he
would have Jared better with his
party in congress.
At the White House from the begin
ming it has been said that the country
generally in it's letters has manifest
ed it's approval of the administrators
course. Representatives and senators
who are opposed to repeal say that
their letters tell different story. 1t
must perhaps be left to the ballot box
later on to determine to which side Of
this controversy the greatest popular
approval has been given.
Another Suffrage Parade.
There will be another big parade of
women in Washington in behalf of suf-
frage on Saturday, May 8. 1t is prom
ised by the women that will be fully
as big an affair as that which took
place on March 8, 1913. 1t can be
added to this statement Of the pro-
moters of the parade that this year
there will be such police protection for
the paraders as never before was wit
messed in the United States, perhaps,
for parade of any kind. The police
force Of Washington are still smarting
under the criticisms which were passed
upon it's course of non-protection one
year ago.
Every official in Washington, wheth-
er in favor Of suffrage or not, con-
demned the proceedings Of the row.
dies who insulted and occasionally at
tackled the women and children all
along the line of march On the day
before the last Inauguration. There
were few policemen on the street, and
they seemed powerless or unwilling to
do anything in the way of saving the
paraders from i'll treatment. The half
has never been told of what was done
by the rowdy element of Washington
and Of other places on that day. Some
of the things that were said and some
Of the things that were done are I'M
printable.
There was an investigation, and
while the police authorities we're in
way cleared of blame for conditions,
there is assurance this year that the
power of congress, the power of the
police force and the power of the
regular army will be invoked if neces-
sary to allow women, whether suf-
Ii 1918 vi 1IOLJ " din L11C oL1 CCtO VI
the capital city of the country without
fear of being beaten and vilely abused
by the men scum of the earth.
Politicians Giving Heed.
There has been a change Of attitude
on the part Of the politicians and Office
holders of all parties toward the wom-
an suffrage movement. This unques-
tionably is due, in part, to the growth
Of sentiment in favor Of suffrage in
many parts Of the country, and also
to the fact that even in places where
suffrage does not exist the women in
favor of it have a large amount Of in
fuence and perhaps can make or I'M
make Representatives and senators.
Attorney General McReynolds has
put to rest the story that the govern
ment officials would not allow women
employees of the departments who hap
pen to believe in suffrage to parade
with their sisters in May. It is pos
sibIe the suffragists wanted to make
some capital out of the supposed an
tagonism of the officials, but they had
little opportunity to do so, for the at
torney general of the United States
has written a letter which has the
strength of a final order, and under
it the women workers in Uncle Sans
departments will be able to march
without fear Of losing their jobs be-
cause Of absence from duty.
stone and nrnampnfad with anaraaI in