The Dermott news., 1918-02-07

darker Washington
 The Roosevelt Days.
 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 q fine to be imposed upon corporations which used soft coal and thereby created smudge, which was very obnoxious to the president.
 It would make Freddy" blink and ex- press himself-whiCh means an erup- tion of words--if he could see how the beautiful buildings of Washington are being "limned darkly against the sky with the smoke which enshrouds the national capital.
 Here is story told in the speech of Senator Kenyon of Iowa recounting his experiences In France which makes the heart beat quicker IL was in re gard tn the landing of the "Rainbow division" those sturdy Americans from nearly every state in the Union. The people were all assembled It this un- named port. for they knew the Amert- cans We're coming. The band played the aMarseillaise." On the dock were mother and her little girl, the mother 1 trying 10 explain and answer ques- l tions There were shouts of Les i Americains! Les Americains T" Then the little girl comprehended and said
 "Oh. mother. they have come to save us :"
 'It Is n great thing" remarked Sen 1 ator Kenyon. ito have q part in saving Il nation like France"
 Fathers" Made One Error.
 Always in debates involving Con stitutional questions great admira l tion k expressed for the wisdom of the makers of the Constitution. Rev ereHtly they are referred to as "the l fathers" especially by those who believe that the fundamental law one of great compromises, t0 be sure should not be changed. But tt has become quite a common thing to change the Constitution during these later years. Two important changes lluNt httlI Iiludt Nliillll b AAh sAA-1 the income tux amendment and the election of senators by direct vote of the people Within q 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 he more stable. less in clined to change. and more eonserva- 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 vote of the Ieople 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 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. tour legislatures will vote to ratify. but our people will not vote for woman suffrage.
 Along this same line it was observed that large majority of representa- lives Tn the house from states that had voted down suffrage voted iA favor of the amendment.
 The late Augustus r. Gardner was really the senior "sonIn-law." He came Into prominence when he was elected to the Fifty seventh congress to hll a vacancy caused by the resignation of William II. Moody. whom President Roosevelt appointed secretary of the navy.
 Gardner blossomed into notoriety as the son-in-law of Senator Lodge The Massa achusetts 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" IL was galling to Gard ner. although he was great admlrer 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."
 Lonoworth "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-in-law club" Gardner was his senior so far as Washington public life Is concerned. Gardner had felt i 1F ha I,,1