The Washington times., 1914-07-19
z THORNY QUESTIONS
WORRY POLITICIANS
Suffrage and Prohibition Issues
Make Party Leaders Lie
Awake Nights.

It isn't the tariff. the trusts. or the
Nlk about the condition of business
fhat is causing the political leaders In
Washington to sweat these days and lie
awake nights. Anybody who thinks
-uch things as these are the chief of
the troubles of the politicians has not
--2-Ha a thorough diagnosis of the sit
uation.
Woman suffrage question and national
prohibition-these are the real obstacles
TO the peace and happiness of the politi-
cal leaders. More or less. this applies
10 all parties. The Bull Moose, it Is
true, are for woman suffrage, and have
crossed the Rubicon so far as that issue
is concerned. National prohibition, how
ever is making the Progressive party
leaders take serious notice. AS for the
leaders OF the old parties, they are
about equally distressed over suffrage
and prohibition, although the burden of
having to face those questions is felt
the more heavily by the Democrats
since they happen to be at present the
party in power.
Democrats In Hot Water.
The recent adoption of national pro-
hIbItion as a part of the Progressive
party platform in Iowa is an illustra-
ton of the way sentiment is causing
party leaders to deal with this issue. All
through the present session of Congress
the Democratic leaders have been kept
IN hot water by the advocates of suf-
frage and the supporters of a national
prohibition amendment
The House leaders have been espe-
cially beset. They have succeeded, Tor
the present, in blocking the submission
Of suffrage amendment. And as the
situation now stands, vote on the
Hobson prohibition amendment will be
avoided by the House, to the great re-
lief of many members. But this Is only
temporary
The suffragists, though blocked for
The time at the Capitol, and though re-
buffed at the White House, are much
encouraged, and believe it is only a
question of brief time until they Will
gain what they demand. submission 10
he States Of a suffrage amendment.
Suffragists Encouraged.
The fact that Secretary of State Bryan
has just come out for suffrage, though
rot for national suffrage, and that
~peaker Clark did so some time ago,
: a source of encouragement to them.
Mess Congress, in the meantime. has
prdered the suffrage question submit
ed 10 the States, the suffraglstS are
going TO make it live issue in 1875
nd try to force Sunrage planhS Inlc
rhe various platforms.
The proponents of national prohibition
lever have been so active in their cause
e they are today. And there is a sur
prising amount Of opinion in Congress
hat submission of a prohibition amend
utent cannot long be held back. AS
rrIatter of fact the movement in the
House son.c weeks ago to vote on sub
mission of a prohibitory amendment
emanated from the opponents OF pro-
hibition. They felt confident they could
defeat submission and reasoned that
this would hurt the prohibition cause,
although some of the more sagacious
laid that it would merely stir up the
riEht
The movement for a vote progressed
ar enough 10 disclose that the prohibl-
ion amendment was deVelfplng-
-trength, partly from those who be-
it.ved in it and partly because members
who did not want to vote before cleo
10, on this question were threatening
o line up for submission If they were
orced &c the test.
When il got that far. the movement
as halted. and, though not entirely set
led. the probabilities are no vote vii!
&c forced this session But next session
re issue will be up, and probably can
not be evaoed.