Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-02-13

| OF Washington with SCOT. Inns s
darker Washington
The Roosevelt Days.
I The casual reader will note the dates
/ 1905 and 1909. In those days "Theo-
| dOre the First" reigned supreme In
/ Washington. Roosevelt made smoke
less Washington" one Of his particu-
| lar fads and he caused many fine to
/ be imposed upon corporations which
used soft coal and thereby created
smudge, which was very obnoxious to
/ the president.
/ 1t would make TEDDY" blink and ex-
press himseIf-which means an erup-
! ton of words-if he could see how the
| beautiful buildings Of Washington are
| being "limned darkly against the sky"
| with the smoke which eushrouds I'D"
national capital
Here is d story told in the speech
of Senator Kenyon of Iowa recouBting
| his experiences In France which makes
| the heart beat quicker. II was in re-
gard 10 the landing of the Rainbow
/ division" those sturdy Americans from
nearly every state in the Union. The
/ people were all assembled at this I'M
named port. for they knew the Ameri-
cans were coming. The band played
the 'MarseilIaise." on the dock were
a mother and her little girl, the mother
| trying TO explain and answer ques-
| lions. There We're shouts Of Les
Americans Les Americans" Then
the little girl comprehended and said:
"Oh, mother, they have come to
save us"
1T is a great thing" remarked SEN
ator Kenyon. "to have part in saving
a nation like France"
"Fathers" Made One Error.
Always in debates involving Con-
stitutional questions great admira-
ton is expressed for the wisdom Of
the makers Of the Constitution. Rev
| erently they are referred to as THE
fathers" especially by those who
believe that the fundamental law
one of great compromises, TO be sure
should not be changed. But 1t has
become quite a common thing TO
change the Constitution during these
later years. Two important changes
have been made within a few years,
the income tax amendment and the
election Of senators by direct vote of
the people. Within a short time, 1t
seems certain, there will be two other
important amendments. prohibition
and woman suffrage.
With all their wisdom there was
one thing that the fathers did not
know; they did not know that the
people would be more stable, less in
cIined To change, and more conserva-
tive than the representatives of the
people
For example, It is very doubtful
whether the prohibition and woman
suffrage amendments could be adopted
If submitted to a vote of the people
of the several states instead Of TO
the legislatures Of the states.
The fathers believed that the
chosen representatives OF the people
would be slow to make changes and
could be trusted better than the peO-
pie, hence they provided that the peO-
pie could have no direct voice In
changing the fundamental law Of the
land.
Developed In Debate.
These facts were developed during
the woman suffrage debate. Several
times II was shown that the legisla
lures were favorable to woman suf
frage and had submitted the question
again and again. hut woman suffrage
was defeated by the people. THE
only way we can get woman suffrage
is by federal amendment was the
tenor of several speeches. because"
II was explained, "our legislatures will
vote TO ratify. but our people will not
vote for woman suffrage"
Along this same line it was observed
that a large majority OF representa-
tives In the house from states that
had voted down suffrage voted il
favor of the amendment.
The late Augustus p. Gardner was
really the senior "son-in-law." He came
into prominence when he was elected
to the Fifty-Seventh congress 10 mi
vacancy caused by the resignation of
William H. Moody. whom President
Roosevelt appointed secretary OF the
navy.
Gardner hlOssomed into nOtoriety as
the son-in-law of Senator Lodge. The
Massac husetts senator was at that
time the second man in the nation on
account Of his relations with President
Roosevelt Naturally every mention
of this bright young man included the
words. "he Is the sOn-in-law of Sena-
tor Lodge" II was CALLING 10 Gard |
ner, although he was great admirer
Of the person he frequently referred
TO as my respected father-in-law."
But the fact remains that Gardner
was the senior son-in-law."
Lonqworth "First President"
Whatever may be the position Of
Nicholas Longworth as son-in-law. |
and he claims to be the first president
Of the "sOn-In-law club" Gardner was
his senior so far as Washington public !
life is concerned. Gardner had fel,
the handicap of being the son-in-law
Of great man long before Nick had !
wooed ana won Alice Roosevelt as his |
bride. But the fierce light which |
heats upon throne" naturally
brought Longworth into prominence. |
especially as the sOn-in-law OF such a
man rs Theodore Roosevelt.
There were many jokes passed back |
and forth In Washington about sons
in-law, but II IS a fact that both Gard |