Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-10-30
WILSON RELIES ON
POPULAR SUPPORT
LIKE ROOSEVELT, He APPEALS
TO THE COUNTRY WHEN HE
MEETS OPPOSITION.
SUFFRAGE ACTION EXPLAINED
That Proposition and Prohibition Bring
to Fore Question Whether Legislator
Should Vote Only According to His
Own Views.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington.-Pre Wilson, like
Theodore Roosevelt, relies upon the
people for support. 1t was Roosevelt's
policy, when he wanted to put any
thing through congress and was met
with an adverse majority, or Opposi-
ton among the leaders which was able
to defeat what he wanted, to place the
whole matter before the people in such
way as to bring the pressure of pub
lie opinion upon congress and force it
to act. No other presidents have ever
used the power of public opinion to
secure action with the same effective
ness as Roosevelt and Wilson. Neither
Cleveland Harrison, Mckinley nor
Taft ever put into operation the pow
er of publicity and pressure from the
people as have Roosevelt and Wilson.
In regard to legislation which he deems
OF great importance and where there
Is intense opposition, the president al
ways appeals to the people. Before
the United States entered the war he
even went so far as to make a tour of
the country and urge the necessity Of
an increased army and navy because it
was well-knOwn that there was a ma
jority in congress against such in
creaSeS. And so it was in regard to
the selective draft law; 0e made it
plain what was needed and reluctant
congress voted for what he recon-
mended. One of President Wilson's
closest friends in the United States
senate explained his appearance be
fore the senate on the suffrage ques-
ton by saying that favorable results
were expected after the people had
been heard from. He said that wheth-
er senator's would change or not de-
pended upon the kilograms they would
get from home after the people had
read the presidents address urging the
adoption of the suffrage amendment.
He said the president did not expect
that his personal statement in his ad-
dress to the senators would have the
effect, but the effect would come from
the people, as 1t had in the past, In
support of the president for anything
that he deemed necessary to win the
war.
For many years it has been ques-
ton whether a senator or representa-
tive in congress should represent his
constituents by his votes, or vote his
own convictions. A great many years
ago, 1t is said, senators especially
took the ground that man should vote
according to his own views and not ac-
cept the dictation of his state, whether
voiced by legislative resolution or by
some action taken by the people at the
polls. For the last quarter of CEN
fury there has been more or less con-
troversy on the subject. AS a usual
thing men vote according to what their
constituents want. That has been the
case In regard to prohibition. Let q
state go prohibition and it is almost
certain that its senators will vote for
any prohibition measure that comes
up. On the other hand, senators rep
resenting states which are wet often
times vote prohibition because of the
strong prohibitionist sentiment that
exists In certain sections Of their
states.
In regard to woman suffrage q num-
Der of senators have voted according
to the demands of their constituents
without regard to their own personal
views. At the same time a great many
senators from nonsuffrage states ear
nestly supported the suffrage amend
ment. One rather interesting phase of
the suffrage situation was the fact
that Senator Calder of New York be-
came a suffragist when New York
voted for suffrage, but Senator Wads-
worth remained true to his convictions
and would not be influenced by the
action of his state. Senator McCum-
Der of North Dakota announced that
his convictions were opposed to wom-
an suffrage, but as his state had voted
for woman suffrage he would support
the amendment Senator Borab of
Idaho was conspicuous example of
man from a suffrage state who stood
staunchly in the face of great pres
sure and opposed the suffrage amend
ment because he believed suffrage
was a matter belonging to the states.
although he himself believed in wom-
an suffrage and had supported it in his
own state.
Probably 1t is just as well that there
should be cessation of politics
during the period that the Lib
erty loan is going over. 1t is
doubtful whether the people of the
United States will care TO have more
than two weeks of real campaigning
this year. Here in Washington, of
course, politics are on tap all the time
and there is a great deal of interest as
to whether the house will be Demo-