Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-01-29

ed the word that there must be expe-
dition in getting the appropriation
bills through. Every legislator seem
ingly wants an early adjournment. II
is not believed that trust legislation
or the minor things to be given con-
sheraton viii hold sthe attention of
congress for many months. The two
houses already are getting into the
old-time methods of procedure before
the "one thing and only one thing at
a time" was given the force Of an eX-
ecutive order
Shooting at Cost of Living.
In the ranks of the majority party
in house and senate there is hope that
when the program of antitrust legis-
lation IS completed the price of living
Will come down. The majority ex
poets that the tariff win have made
itself felt in the course of a few
months. and that some additional help
in reducing high costs may be expect
ed even from the new currency law.
The main hope, however, is pinned
now 10 the new antitrust acts. Prob
that individual Democrats in official
life are praying that high prices will
come down, for they believe that moth
ing they can do IN a legislative way
would so strengthen their chances Of
reelection as hitting upon some
thing which will make things cheaper.
The leaders of the three parties in
congress still maintain that the high
cost of living is the big problem of
the day, and each party virtually is
ready TO admit that ascendency in the
country will be held for long time
by the political organization which can
present plan which appears to be adj
equate 10 the cutting Of costs so they
will stay cut. The Democrats be-
lieve that prices will tumble while
they are in power and that the result
will be their continuance in authority.
Progress of Suffragsts.
Virtually simultaneously with the
report that the house of representa-
tives almost certainly will authorize
the appointment of the committee on
suffrage which the women have been
demanding, comes the news that the
suffragists of Washington are having
trouble among themselves. There are
now two separate working organIZa-
tons OF suffragists in this city, and
while they are trying to keep their diff
ferenceS as much as possible from pub
lie view they exist, and while of course
they are to be deplored, government
officials are cogniZant of them and
make them the subject of comment.
The trouble in the ranks of the
suffragists is not as big as a mountain
nor is its heat that of a volcano.
There seems to be assurance that the
thing will right itself quickly. Two
young women who are at the head of
what is called the congressional I'M
ion" Of the suffragists came TO Wash
ington over a year ago with the au-
thority Of the National Association of
Woman Suffra gists to take charge OF
the campaign for a constitutional
amendment fixing definitely the right
of women to vote.
Recently the National association
came to the conclusion that these
young women were not entirely SubOr
dinate to the wishes of the parent or
ganization. So it was that another
chairman was appointed for the Wash
ington work and this led to the trou-
bic. The two young women objected
TO the change, and so the congreSSion-
al union was formed, which will do
work nominaIly under the control of
the National association, but in reality
Independent Of it.
Dodgine Worries the Leaders.
Washington officials are beginning
to wonder if President Wilson's diplO-
matte lodging Of the suffrage PROPOSE
ton when the women met him in the
White House, and the subsequent side
stepping done by other Democrats of
prominence, are not worrying the par
ty leaders, who always remember
that women vote in a good many
states in this country. Southern
Democrats in congress have little or
nothing to fear from the results of the
aggressive campaign which the wo
men promise to wage in all the con-
gressional districts of the country.
The southerners in congress, however,
have much to worry about in national
matters. They know that Offices come
from a Democratic administration and
they know also that California and
the rest of the suffrage states can
make or unmake candidates for the
presidency. There is seemingly
growing kindness Of disposition in
the house of representatives toward
the women suffrage movement, and
opponents of suffrage must face the
fact.
Just at the present the judiciary
committee of the house is considering
a bill which would pave the way for
the submission to the people of a
constitutional amendment giving sui
frage to women. In the senate 2
measure to the same effect is await
ing it's third reading. The senate re-
Gently has been more kindly disposed
than the house to the suffrage move
ment. Curiously enough, the senators
today respond more quickly to
changes in public sentiment than do
the representatives, although in the
past the house has shown itself most
quickly and keenly sensitive to chang
es in the countTy's opinions This
does not mean that the senate neces-
sarily will give sanction to the amend
ment proposition Immediately, but
there are three upper house men to-
day to one of q few years ago, who,
whether sympathetic OF not, will be
willing to vote as expediency seems tC
dictate.
The Happiest Wife.
The happiest wife is not always the