The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1918-08-02
Senator Shields on Suffrage.

| ~ the pOoStc1lltlSo AaSCHl III thS WV
which is presently to be taken by the
Senate on the suffrage amendment
that l am going to- take liberty
which, in ordinary circumstances,
should not feel justified in taking,
and ask you very frankly if it will
not be possible for you to vote for
the amendment.
l feel that much of the morale of
this country and of the world, and
not little of the faith which the
rest of the world will repose in our
sincere adherence to democratic prin-
ciples, will depend upon the action
which the Senate takes in this now
critically important matter. If it
were merely domestic question, or
if the times were normal, l would
not feel that l could make direct
request of this sort, but the times
are so far from normal, the fortunes
of nations are so linked together,
the reactions upon the thought of
the world are so sharp and involve
such momentous issues, that | know
that you will indulge my unusual
course of action and permit me to
beg very earnestly that you will lend
your aid in clearing away the diff
culties which will undoubtedly beset
us if the amendment is not adopted.
With much respect sincerely
yours, WOODROW WILSON.
SENATOR SHELLS REPLY.
My Dear Mr.. President: Your val
ued letter, concerning the joint reso-
luton proposing an amendment to
the Federal Constitution favoring
equal suffrage, now pending in the
United States Senate, has challenged
my most thoughtful consideration, as
do all your views upon public mat
terS.
The resolution involves funda-
mental questions affecting the SOW
ereignty and powers of the Federal
and State governments most i'm
portant and vital to the people of
the State which l have the honor in
part to represent in the United States
Senate and those of States with
which they are closely allied in all
social, economical and governmental
interests, upon which l have most
profound convictions unfavorable to
it, known and, l believe, approved
by the great majority of the people
OF Tennessec-arrived at after full
consideration of conditions existing
when l voted against a similar one
some years ago and those now con-
fronting our country.
The reasons for my conclusions
are those controlling the majority of
my colleagues from the Southern
States, we'll known to you and which
would not be interesting to here re-
state.
If l could bring myself to believe
that the adoption of the resolution
would contribute to the successful
prosecution of the war we are wag-
ing with Germany l would unhesi-
tatingly vote for it, because my
whole heart and soul is involved in
bringing it to victorious issue, and
| am willing to sacrifice everything
save the honor and freedom of our
country in aiding you to accomplish |
that end, but have been unable to
do so.
We cannot reasonably expect the |
amendment to be ratified |
within less than two years, and the |
of it would unquestion- |
ably divert the minds and energies |
of the people from the one great alb
subject before us-the win
ming of the war-by involving those |
of many States in most bitter con-
troversy, contrary to our earnest de-
sire for that unity of thought and |
action of the American people now
so imperatively required.
These are my sincere convictions, |
but out of my very high respect for
your views / will continue to give
your suggestions my most thought
full and earnest consideration.
With the highest respect, I am,
yours,
JOHN K. SHIELDS.
PRESIDENTS SECOND LETTER.
My Dear Senator: Thank you
very sincerely for your frank letter |
of yesterday about the suffrage |
l realize the weight of |
the arguments that have controlled |
your attituGe in this matter, and |
would not have written as l did if |
| had not thought that the passage |
of the amendment at this time was
an essential psychological element in |
the conduct of the war for democ-
racy. l am led by single sentence
in your letter, therefore, to write to