American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-10-29
DEMOCRATS AGAIN
REFUSE TO STAND
BY THE PRESIDENT
Southern Members Defeat Equal
Suffrage Despite Presi-
dents Appeal

Although the Democratic leaders
are attempting to make 1t appear they
are not to blame for the defeat of the
Suffrage resolution In this session OF
Congress, there is nj way they can
twist the figures so as TO escape the
responsibility Of his action Demo
Gratis are the majority party in the
Senate and as such have 1t In their
power to pass any legislation. Instead
of their party standing by the Presi-
dent" 81 of their number opposed him,
and Of these 10 came from south OF
the Mason and Dixon Line. They rep
resented Democratic leadership In the
Senate. They included Senator Mar
tin of Virginia, floor leader Of the
Democrats in the Senate; Simmons Of
North Carolina, chairman of the Com
mittee on Finance Smith OF South
Carolina, chairman of the Committee
on Interstate Commerce Overman OF
North Carolina, who has been the pres
ident's spokesman on the doc OF the
Senate; Underwood of Alabama, one
of President Wilson's opponents for
nomination in 1912 Williams of Mis-
sissippi, B~ankhead Of Alabama, Benet
of South Carolina, Hardwick Of Geor-
gia, Shields Of Tennessee, Trammeli
of Florida, Guion of Louisiana.
There is no way to escape the con
clusion that the South was in the sad
die driving an offensive attack against
a resolution which the President q
asked as a war measure. The Repub-
licans, although in the minority in the
Senate. furnished more votes in favor
of this measure than did the Demo
Gratis. and they contributed less than
one-half as many votes against il, the
opposition vote being: Democrats
21 Republicans, 10.
Democrats Against President.
If this were not enough to show that
the Democratic party cannot be relied
upon to stand by the President" on
measures which he regards as neces-
sary for winning the war, the vote In
the House would cOnclusiyely prove It
When the Suffrage resolution came to
a vote in the House there was q clear
majority of Democrats against it and
an overwhelming majority of Repub-
licans for it. The lineup o
DemOcrdlS-H OIf 90 against 49,
Neutrality-suspicious.. 172; against, 80.
These figures give some idea OF the
opposition to the President which ex
lists within his own party, an opposi
ton that is solid in the dominant
Southern wing of his party and which
therefore can never be eliminated. i
is the handicap of the Southern Bour
bon under which the Democratic part!
; must forever labor. 1t is the repetition
of what happened when Democrat
T leaders like Dent of Alabama, Kitchii
! Of North Carolina and others refuse'
l TO o the President on the meas
; ures which were necessary to rails
and maintain an army. 1t is the repe
tition Of what has happened on man,
previous occasions when h Presiden
T. ran contrary to the sectional preju
! dices of that part of the United State
6 which is hopelessly Democratic.
[ 1t now remains 10 see whether tn
5 Democratic leaders who have thus IT
undated the President upon h h
l. regards as a very important war meas
4 ure can 90 before the country an
r make a successful appeal for their r.
$ election upon the ground their re-ele'
ton is necessary in order TO have
# Congress which will stand by I'll
President"