River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-08-01
Wilson Works Hard
For Woman Suffrage
From Milwaukee Journal

Some day the women of America
will look back reverently upon
Woodrow Wilson as the m n who
did more to advance the cause of
woman suffrage than any one in
high Office in this country. While
opponents of suffrage have attempt
ed by their propaganda to present
the impression that the president
has only a perfunctory interest in
the passage of the federal amend
ment. The truth is that he has al
ready in ways not made public gone
farther in using his influence with
con g r e S S to get the amendment
through the senate than he has with
any other piece of legislation.
There have been many conference
es and many letters. have learned
definitely of the contents of some of
the letters which members Of the
senate, reluctant themselves to vote
for the measure, have received from
the president. If any one character
ICES the persuasive words Mr.. Will
son used as perfunctory that person
simply is not familiarwith the presi-
Dental vocabulary.
Necessary to Conduct War.
The president has made it clear to
Democratic senators and particular
ly to southern senator's, that he sim
cerely believes the passage of the
amendment is essential to the con-
duct OF the war. He lays stress UP.
on the psychological atmosphere in
which effective war must be con-
Quoted and emphasizes the part that
united nation can play and particu-
larly one in which the principle Of
democracy extends not merely to a
part but the whole of the electorate.
Mr.. Wilson believes adoption of
the amendment will have an immed-
late influence on the morale of our
own people, as we'll as the peoples
abroad. The president is convinced
that in great fight for world de-
mocracy at time when the women
OF Great Britain and other entente
countries are being enfranchised, it
would in sense contradict our pro-
fession of democratic principles if
we Withheld the vote from the wo-
men.
Women Bear Brunt of War
The women are bearing the brunt
of the war. 1t is their sons or broth
ers or fathers who are away from
home and it is upon the women that
the real hardships and sacrifices are
imposed. Their morale and spirits
must be kept uplifted. They must
be inspired with the knowledge that
out OF the war will come condition
of affairs which will be better for
women as well as men, and that
America, in crying cut ha t the
world be made hereafter a decent
place in which to live, shall otwith-
hold what is due to half our popuIa-
ton as q measure of gratitude if not
of absolute justice.
Mr.. Wilson frankly apologies for
his use of abnormal methods and for
the extent which he finds it neces-
sary to go in urging senators, and
especially members Of our own par
ty, point blank to vote for the fed
eral amendment. But, as he argues,
these are abnormal times, calling
for abnormal measures. Instead of
waiting until after the war to make
reforms, as the German government
so frequently answers the liberals,
it is the presidents policy to effect
those reforms now which come
nearest to the heart Of our people,
and which are directly related to
the cultivation of Twin the war"
spirit.