The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-02-24
PRESIDENT
WILSON'S
|. ATTITUDE
TOWARD THE BALTIMORE PLAT.
F0RMsT0 BE, "a LIVElISSUEIN
APPROACHING CAMPAIGN.
THERE WILL BE MUCH TO Elk.
PLAIN AND DEMOCRATS WILL
BE ON HEsDEFENSIVE.
THE BALTIMORE PLATFORM r AND
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OUT
OF DATE ON SUFFRAGE.
Charles Brooks Smith,.

i u
Charles Brooks Smith,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 24.-
President Wilson'S attitude toward
the Baltimore platform will be with
cut a doubt very live issue IN tie
approaching campaign not merely
with reference to the congressional
elections. but especially in Pennsyl-
rania, where the Democrats are go
ling to, put forward: the administra-
TONS record as a reason for the cleo
ton Of a Democratic governor and. a
Democratic ator, t..;s9 VI rSs{
That there will muci, to expia,ii
land that the Democrats viii be
placed on the defensive is now be-
looming apparent as a result of the
scruttny to which President Wilson'S
actions with regard to tic platform
src being subjected. ~
President Wilson put hin.self to a
very severe test, when, in talking to
the sutfragettes, he asserted that the
Baltimore platform was his supreme
law and that he could not recommend
anything outside of that document.
He was in sympathy with the move
Iment for equal suffrage but felt that
he could do nothing because he was
merely the spokesman ola great par
Ety. Those WHO were close to the pres
ident described his deep emotion
when he was forced to reject tile ap-
peals Of the working women, who
pleaded with him to recommend to
congress an amendment to the Con-
stitution to permit the enfranchisc-
ment of women.
The presidents friends said that
he was greatly depressed that he had
to reject the plea, but that he felt
that his own wishes should not count
against the edict Of the Baltimore
platform. The platform did not OPP
pose woman suffrage, but by failing
10 recommend an amendment 1t tied
the presidents hands.
From this statement 1t was pre-
sumed that the president regarded
the Baltimore platform as the con-.
science OF his party. 1t had been OBJ
served that when the president went
70 the capitol and read his message
urging direct presidential primaries
he made no reference to a single term
for president, to which the platform
lad committed him, but it was pre-
sumed that he would take this matter
up later on. ME IL Ss:l
The ruling Of the Baltimore plat
form with regard to a single. presi-
dental term was very specific. II
was as follows: = i5I
I'VE favor single presidential
term and to that end urge the adop;
tion of an amendment to the .Consti-
tuition making the President of the
United States ineligible for re-elec-
tion and we pledge the candidate Of
this convention to this principle
There was no possible way in
which President Wilson could dodge
this issue. The edict of the Demo-
cratic party was clear and .unmistak!
able. 1t pledged Mr.. Wilson to the
principle Of a single term for presi-
cent. He did not repudiate the plank
before election, but he has taken no
action upon it since election and the
time is rapidly passing when action
may be made effective. If the pres.-
dent remains silent much longer
there will be no time for the proyi:
sion to affect the present. administra-
tion.