New Britain herald., 1916-08-25
VOTES FOR SOLDIERS

M any action taken by the extraor- Try session of the legislature called @Extend the franchise to local
 dsrnen on the border at the Aember elections will be peremp- AAly countermanded by the supreme Nt. Historical precedents have
 n dragged forth to show that Mecting votes of absent soldiers Munc This, however, H8ut a side-ltght on the question of Eng this special session. The main 8 plaint against any such action |s%s back to the time when the New
 tain Common Council adopted Bluttons asking the Governor to a special session of the legisla- B for the purpose of taking care of Sendent families of men ordered to s border. At that time the Cover stated the expense of such a B1on would be too great,-in the gshborhood of $1OO,0OO. Now that November elections are in sight the votes of the boys on the S der are wanted, anything goes. If posts $1,000,0oO, ''let her rip"
 Et is the principle of the thing that 8s for condemnation. There are folk who do not want the sol es to vote. They have every right the world, according to popular |nfon. The constitution might say and the supreme court Bht uphold the constitution, which probably will; but, dismissing that tin, our boys on the border should allowed to vote if there is any way ssible to collect their ballots. Be- e that though, any persons de- ldent upon these same boys should ze been taken care of, should have m assured against want. There re stories shortly after the troops Tt away to the effect that many of
 dependents of soldiers found difficult to eke otit9&an existence. there was no action taken
 the Governor to offset such con- ions. Women and little children ght starve to death if needs be; but rifce votes? Never! It is %1o %o vernon assured his people of ,cial session of the legislature he led a def with it,-a def to the mocratic portion of the state. He ed the Democrats to prevent ion by the legislature. Why, bless
 old soul, the Dem ocrats are not to prevent the soldier boys from ing. Primarily, they were for ing care of the soldiers families. no heed was paid by the Cover to that phase of the question. If
 Governor wants to collect the boys es, let him do so, and more power him. There might be few scat ing votes down on the border for ,odrowA Wilson. after all. If the thought so,3 he might call
 the special session.
 There is the outstanding feature of whole case. It Is the pith and ,stance of 1t all. As famous rman statesman once said in the fcHlstag: Politics, ; my friends, ittos!'' That seems to be the case
 this entire special session. The vernor of the State of Connecticut,
 political family, and all the news pers connected herewith, are bued with the idea that President lson one day went into his study q reasoned thus,-speaking to his end, Joe Tumulty: "It begins to ,k pretty bad for us. There is only e chance to win out in the coming ,vember elections. That is to call e National Guardsmen to the bor- r. I know this should not be done, be- use the guardsmen were never in- nded to serve as soldiers. The govern ent provides them with uniforms and ms, etc., but the boys look much cer when they are home. Anyway, c are forced to do this thing. We ust send the boys to the border and ereby keep them from voting gainsr us. I would not be so much raid if it were not for that State
 Connecticut up there the other de of New York. That is a strong epubIican ho1d-out, and it has all o1 ven electoral votes. A defeat there cans the jig is up. Now, I cannot II the Connecticut soldiers witH cir two thousand votes unless cal 1t the rest of the state militia. Sc re goss.' And the deed was done lmulty ran over to the war depart ent, Secretary Baker issued the call Id the danger was passed. That is ena1nglY. Ghs REasaAazAAasaa&ss AaMsHas