Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-01-22

legislation intention TO the report
which was published in this CORE
spcndence not long ago that the Dem
ocrats might take means TO prevent
in the future the introduction into con
gTess Of bills containing jOkers. There
probably viii be no open antagonism
TO such d measure unless it be based
ostensibly on the ground Of expense.
Sometimes when members of con
gress want TO nip prospective Iegisla-
ton and do not care to give their
real reasons, they plead economy Of
service. j bureau Of experts would
cost some money. but in the minds OF
the advocates Of such a bureau the
money saved would many times re-
place that spent for salaries for the
bureaus experts.
Activities of Sufragists.
In the presidential campaign OF the
summer and fall Of 1912. Mrs. Medill
Mccormick Of Chicago, who is the
daughter Of the late Mark Hanna.
showed that she was =. resourcefuI
leader and an organizer who knew
how TO make strong the foundations OF
campaign. Mrs. Mccormick has
just come to Washington to make the
leadership OF the sufragist commit
tee on congressional action.
1t can be said that from what is
known Of them in the past that Mrs.
Mccormick and her companion in
Washington are good strategists.
They have made simultaneous an
nouncements that they intend TO get
the congressional action necessary to
secure a suffrage amendment TO the
constitution. and that, second, and
even more important from their point
OF view, they intend TO undertake Wig
Orous campaigns in every congression-
al district in the United States next
fall to defeat candidates who do not
declare themselves in favor of the
woman suffrage movement
It may be that few southern mem
bers OF congress will be Influenced TO
vote for the necessary amendment by
the prospects of woman campaign
against them in their districts. but
there are a good many northern mem
bers, anti-sufragists at heart. who may
think they see visions of defeat unless
| they show kindness toward the cause
which is bound to come into it's own"
The suffragists have just completed
their campaign or organization.
There are generals, field officers, troop
and company commanders, and pri-
! Yates in plenty in the ranks to engage
IN, h
ganization, but nothing Of the English
| woman's type of milftancy enters into
the plans.
Rules Committee Against Them.
The rules committee of the house.
which has under consideration the
matter of appointing a committee on
suffrage, is antagonistic in spirit TO
| the plan. and it probably will be in
act unless the women who are in
charge of the campaign for this form
of recognition of their cause can move
| the members out or the frame of mind
in which their willing souls would
sit" Chairman Henry of the rules
committee had his sensibilities much
| RULED recently by a sharp encounter
which he had with one or two OF the
aggressiYeIy inclined suffragists. This
encounter was prior to the time that
the women had formulated a definite
plan of gentle attack" 1t is said
that Mr.. Henry has been m0lliiled
somewhat and that with his col
leagues of the committee he viii give
patient attention to the further pleas
which are to be made to him and that
he soon may find himself willing to
compromise if not to yield all that
/ is asked.
As soon as the nominations for rep
resentatiyes in congress are made by
the different parties next spring or
summer, the proper local organizations
OF suffragists will appoint tactful but
acute committees to call upon the
nominees and to ask them how they
stand on the question of suffrage 1t
is taken for granted by the women
that ali candidates Of the Progressive
party fer congress will be in favor OF
woman suffrage, for the party is COM
mitted to tle cause.
Not All Progressives.
1t must he remembered, however.
that the woman suffrage movement is
not q movement solely Of the Progress
sive party. There are thousands of
women who believe in suffrage who
are inclined politically to Democracy
or Repu5licanism. 1t is probable that
the Democratic candidates will be APP
preached by women of the Democratic
faith, and that the same rule Of ap-
proach will apply in the case of Kepub-
. Leans. A candidate Of the Democratic
! party may fird that he is in danger
of losing votes to a Republican antag-
onist if the latter declares for woman
suffrage While the former declares
against it. The women may not be
able TO vote but their influence. as
J men know, always has been the case
/ with woman's influence, probably can
/ make itself felt
( 1t can be taken for granted that be-
/ fore the su6ra gists in Washington are
! through with their winters work. they
! will have money enough to carry on
/ the kind OF congressional campaign
1 which they have outlined az most
/ likely TO be effective All the suffra-
/ gists OF the country of course will be
! expected 10 contribute. but it is the
/ intention. it IS said, OF the women now
| in the capital to give a series OF public
/ entertainments and perhaps a great
| big ball' for the purpose of raising
! funds The mark set today is $50 O00,
| but it is likely to be 100000 before
| the season wanes. The women are in
earnest; they are working thoughtfplly
! energetic,
! velvet turban cooked over your left
eye?