The Washington times., 1918-01-05
.DEMOCRATSFATE#.
HANGSNBALANeE
ON BILL
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
(continued from FIRST PaEO1

woman Suffrage plank was not In the
6rst draft Of the Democratic platform
OF 1915: II was not recommsndod to
the full committee on resolutions BY
the subcommittee that conducted
hearings. But the SenatoP who cast
the deciding vote against II in sub
committee 10 now ready to vots for
the Federal amendment But the full
committee on res buttons put the sur
frage plank into the platform. and
there II stayed through the only con-
test in the DemoeVati convention
And II stayed there because OF q very
forcefuI and practical speech by Sem
ator Walsh Of Montana. who showed
to the convention that The Democratic
party would mead the votes Of States
having woman suffrage In order 20
re-elsct President Wilson. Our ex-
perience at Democratic headquarters
In Chicago in thecampaign. and the re-
suit OF the election, showed that this
position was sound. No party could
out an Endorsement OF woman SUI
frAge In its platform.
Hughes wouId Have Yves.
But, you say, that plank was not
for the Federal amendmsat, but for
suffrage In the States Very true, and
my answer IL that Judge Hughes
would have been elected II the Re-
pubIicans had been for national WON
an suffrage.
'~rhe world has moved since 1915
Thu Democrats carried the country
In that year on woman suffrage BY
states, and President Wilson's 1sAes
policy. We have now entered the
arsatsst war OF all time to make the
world safe for democracy, safe for
majority rule as opposed TO Kaiser
rule and autoeraey. We are de-
termIned that the peace OF the world
shall not depend hereafter upon the
vhims or ambitions or quarrels OF =
few individuals. The world Is not
safe for democracy unless the people
rule the world. And no nation can
fight the champion or
world democracy unless II has nrst
become itself 4 genuine democracy,
granting to all the people, irrespec-
tive Of sex, the privilege OF the bal
lot. / do not say the right Of the
ballot because woman always has had
the right to vote; she merely mas
lacked the power to enforce tAe
right"
Republicans OutsDOksn-
What Senator Hollis says about the
OF the Republican con-
ysntion to woman suffrage as com
pared to the grudging support given
by Democrats will be recalled By al
who attended the convention a. 81
Louis last June. The Republicans
we're outspoken for suffrage.
The Democrats hesftaeed and con-
troversy between Northern and South
ern Democrats enRusd with the re-
suit that the forward looking and
Democrats from Southern
States furnished enough votes finally
In coalition with the Northern DEM
ocrats to put the woman suffrage
plank into the platform Party ex-
oedlency demanded that action 70
save President Wilson from dsfeAtnin
the West which went overwhelming
- for him as the real progressive
fhs same logic OF political strategy
would seem to confront the Demo-
,rats In respect OF the Federal amend
aent- They may decide the Con-
yressional campaign OF next HoSem-
Der by their votes next Week--and
1 Republican House Of Representa-
lives might coneeiVably turn the tide
Tor 1920 back TO the Republican party
especially II that institution Inspired
BY a Western leadership. and the les
sons OF 1912 and 1915 makes It's pFin-
.iples and personnel conform to the
lew liberalism Of the age