The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-27
Political Observations.


Congressional investigation into the
conduct OF the war. 1; II can be shorn
Of partisan bias, will be wholesome and
will clear the air. But partisan fervor
not help. and II might, II people don't
keep their feet under them. create u
failure OF confidence In the government
that would be disastrous.
Suffrage leaders are frank To admit
that the suffrage outlook II anything
but rosy. There is no certainty that the
Susan u. Anthony resolution will BE-
adopted by either the house or the
senate. and even II adopted by both the
house and senate there IL no certainly
that IL will be ratified by the necessary
thirty.slN states.
Woman suffrage is war measure
and as such IN 10 be pushed TO legal
reality" This Is the position taken by.
John T.. Raker OF California. Democratic
chairman OF the committee Of the house
OF representatives on woman suffrage.
An entirely different position. is taken
by Jacob T.. Meeker OF Missouri, one
Of the Republican members OF the com
mittee. Mr.. Meeker is very much
against woman suffrage.
Among the United States senators
whose terms will expire in 1919 and
whose SUCCESSORS viii be elected next
year, Is knut Nelson of Minnesota, who
has announced his purpose To retire
from public life. An effort. however. Is
being made with the approval of Presl.
dent Wilson and Democratic leaders in
Minnesota. to induce the senator to con
sent to accept another term and 10
bring about his election without opposi.
tion.
Before adjourning for the holidays con-
gress broke the legislative record by
passing through one house or both,
more general legislation than has ever
before been accomplished prior 10 the
Christmas recess. IL the same rate OF
legislative progress is maintained by
congress on its return after the recess
il viii make record as a war body.
The leaders OF both houses are anxious
to adjourn by midsummer. at the latest
in order to give their attention TO the
elections next fall.
The final nail in the liquor traffic Is
the decision of the supreme court in the
Idaho case. This decision upholds the
Idaho law forbidding citizens to keep
alcoholic beverages in their homes and
confirms the rights of states to place
liquor on a par with dangerous weapons
and harmful drugs. The court has taken
the attitude that the state which has
the power 20 forbid the manufacture.
sale and importation of liquors can
aIy s.oacaSsfn1 EtIrfher tina a
that il does not seem possible for pro-
hibition TO go.
BY his refusal to order a special elec.
ton to choose a successor TO the late
Paul o. Husting. United States senator
from Wisconsin, Governor Emmanuel
l.. Philipp has become the immediate
central figure in the fight to purge WIS
consin of the taint of La Folletteism
and proGerman propaganda. In re-
sponse to the request of a committee
Of the Wisconsin Loyalty legion that
he call the election Governor Philip |
made it plain that the would ask the
special session OF the legislature for |
power to make temporary appoint
ment and let the election of success |
sor for the term of Mr.. Husting be de-
cided at the polls next November.
Missouri will be the first state to
ratify the suffrage amendment to the
federal constitution. if the plans of
the suffragist leaders work out. Mis- |
souri, is relying upon Champ Clark, her
great Democratic leader, for his sup |
port" says Mrs. Walter McNab Miller. |
first vice-president of the National
Woman's Suffrage association. We
have already pledged to suffrage the
of both houses of our legisla- |
ture and they may be depended upon |
to ratify the federal amendment az soon |
as congress submits it. A special ses-
sion of the legislature will be called |
.his winter and we shall ask the gov
ernor to include our meaure in his |
,all Therefore. although Missouri is
low a black state on the suffrage map.(
We hope to see it the first state in the
union to ratify national suffrage for