The Green Forest tribune., 1918-02-08
NUMBER 49

black smoke pour forth from thou sands of chlmneys, blackening the sky and covering the fine white buildings of Washington with soot. This IS 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 a fine to be imposed upon corporations which used soft coal and thereby created q 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. It was in re- gard to the landing of the Rainbow division" those sturdy Americans from nearly every state in the Union. The people were all assembled at this un- named port, for they knew the Ameri- cans were coming. The band played the "Marseillaise." On the dock were mother and her little girl, the mother trying to explain and answer ques- l ti0ns. There were shouts of Les Americains! Les Americains." :" Then the little girl comprehended and said:
 "Oh, mother, they have come to save usr"
 Tt is a great thing" remarked Sen ator Kenyon, Ito have part in saving nation like France"
 "Fathers" Made One Error.
 Always in debates involving Con- stitutional questions great admira- tion IS expressed for the wisdom of the makers of the Constitution. Rev erently they are referred to as "the fathers" especially by those who believe that the fundamental law one of great compromises, to be sure should not be changed. But it has become quite common thing to change the Constitution during these later years. Two important changes have been made within a few years, the income tax amendment and the election of senators by direct vote of the people. Within short time, it seems certain, there will be two other important amendments, prohibition and woman suffrage.
 With o1l tbair uicdOOo thprp one thing that the fathers did not know; they did not know that the people would be more stable, less in- clined to change, and more conserva- tive than the representatives of the people.
 For example 1t is very doubtful whether the prohibition and woman suffrage amendments could be adopted If submitted to a vote of the people 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 it was shown that the legisla- lures were favorable to woman suf- frage and had submitted the question again and again, but wQpan suffrage was defeated by the people. "The only way we can get woman suffrage is by a federal amendment" was the tenor of several speeches, "because," 1t 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 a large majority of representa- tives in the house from states that had voted down suffrage voted il favor of the amendment.
 The late Augustus P. Gardner was really the senior "son-in-law." He came into prominence when he was elected to the Fifty-seventh congress to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of William H. Moody. whom President Roosevelt appointed secretary of the navy.
 Gardner blessomed into notoriety as the son-in-law of Senator Lodge. The Massachusetts 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" It was galling to Gard f her, although he was a great admirer e of the person he frequently referred n to as "my respected father-in-law.'
 But the fact remains that Gardner n was the "senior son-in-law." r. Longworth First President" v Whatever may be the position ol : Nicholas Longworth as son-in-law t and he claims to be the first president , of the "son-in-law club" Gardner wee his senior so far as Washington public
 life is concerned. Gardner had felt the handicap of being the son-fn-law of a great man long before Nick had wooed and won Alice Roosevelt as his bride. But the fierce light which beats upon throne" naturally brought Longworth into prominence, especially as the son-in-law of such man as Theodore Roosevelt.
 There were many jokes passed back and forth in Washington about sons in-law, but it is fact that both Gard. ner and Longworth had ability enough I