The Washington herald., 1918-10-15


Woodrow Wilson as Presidential
possibility In 1870 has been talked OF
great deal ct the Capitol during
the past ter days.
There are Republicans there who
insist they lave heard that the Pres
ident has given consent to be named
to head bis party's :icket once more.
and these Republicans. instead of be-
ing d"wEcps. and sullen about it,
mitch &c our surp-ise-ars quite cocky
aud full of hope. They are conf
den: that IL tho President essays
to make the race again he will be
under Tremendous handicap and
that hs VII not 10 able 10 pull oyer
the hill.
Democrats. naturally. say that "
the President really makes the race
again he will outdistance any.hins
the Republicans can bring ap as op-
position. They point out lie nsed
Of the Presidents hand in the |t-K
OF reconstruction and they say shat
the work will nc. he even half done
at the conclusion OF the present term
and that IL will be necessary for
The President to have another four
years II his sterling program is pat
through
Further. the Democrats say the de-
mand will NOT only be of national
scope. hut International They de-
clare that y will be ore Of the most
irresistible demands that las ever
come into being in this nation Cor
any public official to retain his or"rc.
The Republicans. who seem 10 think
the President viii! be unable to over
come the prejudice against a third
:ermer." say all rules are frncturCd
and all tradition, done away with
when Woodrow Wilson IL concerned.
They say ordinarily the rule would
be effective, but with the President
hofiing a place OF uneNcelled popu-
larity with the folks OF the nation
it will be impossible for any scheme
to hold him away from the trial
for the place. Bat in spite OF this
which would appear to be a sum
cient handicap 10 discourage them,
they say they can name a candidate te
who will make n winning campaign
against the President
They have not mentioned the can
didate's name yet-nor havc-they pro
scribed the issues upon which he will
run. Presumably the removal of
trade barriers" in the peace treaties
will be one plank which their candii-
date will assail. if the Presidents
plans are shown to propose free
trade provision for our final settle
ment with Germany and the balance
of the world.
We heard two prominent members
of Congress talking about the dan
gers OF the initiative and referendum
rccently-and to hear the awed tones
which they used and the many mis-
givings which they reflected in the
frequent shaking of their heads and
knowing mods one who konws this
legislation couldn't help but emit
loud guffaw. to say the least.
The idea of the initiative and ref
erendum being dangerous. If they are
hcdged about with safeguards Why
they are as harmless as can be. In
fact. they are real aids to the better
conduct of our government. There is
nothing to be afraid of, nothing for
even the bosses to fear. IL they are
good bosses and do not object to the
people having their SAY so" once in
awhile.
We have lived with the Initiative
and referendum for many ycarS-in
several States. We have watched the
operation of these two steps with in
terest and have found that when the
people know enough to keep track of
public matters and devote a portion
of their time to this duty the steps
work out fine. The only danger that
can come with either is placing too
low a requirement for the number of
petitioners gathered to insist upon
thpv-t Of nYFi i.N,Ia
proposition. II the number is too low
too many propositions may be sub
mitted-and absurd propositions. But
if the percentage of the bona fide
voters which must petition for these
steps is placed rather high it will I
prevent submission of too MANY or
too freakish legislation to the direct
vote of the people.
The initiative and referendum
should be i'm every State. We think
if they were and steps were taken
to properly educate the people in
their uses there would be no occasion
to do away with them or to suggest
some other step for the people. to
have more direct hand in their
affairs.
They have . proposition they are
which some denominate the "compul-
sorry voting" legislation. OF course.
it is no direct statuts that seeks to
accomplish this for the step could
not ConstitutiOnally he achieved direct
ly. But it car he achieved indirectly
through some means of wedding out
those who are derelict in their suffrage
duties.
We have heard Of one such proposal
which may later he made in some
State or other. 1t is the suggestion
that where a man falls 10 exercise his
rights the rights shall lie passed on
to his wife it he possesses one and if
not on to his next female relative
and so on.
Naturally. the plan Is too freakish
10 be taken seriously but we wish It
could hs tried out somewhere for
time 1t might settle some OF the
many disputed points about women
suffrage. and moreover II might en-
courage men generally TO make use
OF the Ep:endid rights WHICH they have
as citizens OF this country.
The right OF suffrage is n dltv. 100.
and the men and women who have u
should not be backward about eScr-
cisins It. Maybe II they are all made
to pay taxes. which they nearly all ,
do under the present revenue laws,
they vii! feel that they have TO do
80 In order to get their moneys worth
from the government. IT would be
good thing II lot of people would
regard It that way.
THE OBSERVER.
AIrplanes Are Safe
uTI n n, II