The Nevada County picayune., 1918-02-07

| ton of WOrdS-lt he could see now the beautiful buildings of Washington are being "limned darkIy against the sky with the smoke which enshrouds the national capital.
 Here is Il story told in the speech of Senator Kenyon of Iowa recounting his experiences in France which makes the heart beat quicker. It was in re gard to the landing of the Rainbow diYision,' those sturdy Americans from nearly every state in the Union. The people were all assembled it this uh- named port, for they knew the Ameri- cans were coming. The band played the .Marseilaise." On the dock were n mother and her little girl, the mother trying to explain and answer ques- ttons. There were shouts of Les Amercains! Les Americains" " Then the little girl comprehended and said:
 "Oh, mother, they have come to save us .''
 Tt Is a great thing" remarked Sen ator Kenyon, ito have q part in saving a nation like France"
 "Fathers" Made One Error.
 Always in debates involving Con stItutiOnal questions great admira- tion is expressed for the wisdom of the makers of the Constitution. Rev erently they are referred to as "the fathers," especially by those who 1 believe that the fundamental law one of great compromises, to be sure should not be changed. But 1t has 1 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 short time, It 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- clined to change, and more conserva- tive than the representatives of the people.
 For example. 1t Is very doubtful whether the prohibition and woman suffrage amendments could be adopted | If submitted to 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 1t was shown that the legisla- lures were favorable to woman suf- frage and had submitted the question again and again, but wQnan suffrage was defeated by the people. "1he only way We can get woman suffrage is by federal amendment" was the l tenor of several speeches, "hecause,' - if was explained, "our legislatures will vote to ratify, but our people will not vote for woman suffrage"
 Along this same line it WIS observed that large majority of representa- tives in the house from states that had voted down suffrage voted il favor of the amendment.
 The late Augustus F. Gardner was really the senior "son-in-law." He came into prominence when he was elected to the Fiftv-seventh congress to i'll a vacancy caused by the resignation of | William H. Moody whom President Roosevelt appointed secretary of the navy.
 Gardner blosSomed into notorlety as the son-ln-law of Senator Lodge. The Massachusetts 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" It was galllng to Gard ner although he was a great admirer of the person he frequently referred to as my respected fathcr-in-law.' But the fact remains that Gardner was the "seniOr son-ln-law.'
 Longworth First President"
 Whatever may he the position of Nicholas Longworth as son-in-law, and he claims to be the first president of the "son-ln-law club" Gardner wes his senior so far as Washington public life is concerned. Gardner had felt the handicap of being the son-in-law of great man long before Nick had wooed and won Alice Roosevelt as his bride. But the fierce light which beats upon throne" naturally brought Longworth into prominence especially as the sonin-law of such n man aS Theodore Roosevelt.
 There were many jokes passed back and forth in Washington about sons in-law, but it is a fact that both Gard
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