The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-10-08
WILSON Is TURNED
DOWN ON SUFFRAGE
SENATE DEFEATED MEASURE
GIVING VOTE TO WOMEN.
CUMMINs GETS SARCASTIC.

ioIIoWlng the presidents appearance
IN person before the senate.
After five days of debate, corridor
conferences and cloakroom negotia-
tons the Susan B. Anthony federal
amendment resolution enacted by the
house last January was defeated by
vote of SO to 81.
President Wilson's personal ad-
dress before the senate yesterday sup
plemented by letters today to several
democratic senators opposed to the
resolution did not change a single
vote, although in the final debate
some senators asserted that defeat of
the resolution would mean repudia-
ton of the executive.
When President Wilson appeared
IN the senate chamber and asked
almost demanded-that the women
be given votes for the first time he
addressed congress as the command
er-ln-chlef of the army and navy, and
he declared that the world is lookine
TO the United States to place women
on an equal footing with her men.
He had hardly finished speaking
when Senator Oscar W. Underwood,
OF Alabama, a powerful leader in the
democratic party, jumped to his feet
and, while the president still stood
IN the rostrum, asked the senate to
give him a hearing while he stated
reasons why the amendment should
not be passed.
Opposed to mob Rule"
Referring instantly to the presi-
dents insistence that the resolution
be passed because democracy de-
mands it, Senator Underwood deelar-
ed that there can be no democracy
founded upon mob rule of the de-
mocracy." The only democracy. he
said, is the democracy of the United
States as it has existed for more than
40 years. That democracy. he con-
tlnued, Is founded upon the individ-
ual rights of the separate states, and
the passage of a suffrage amendment
by congress, he said, would be a
gross violation of the rights of the
states.
Administration leaders admitted
that the vote was the first important
reverse President Wilson has met in
advocacy OF what ne has declared to
be essential war measures.
The record shows 26 democrats
and q republicans voted for the
u G anu 4 democrats ana ~
republicans against it. Senators
Smith and Hardwick, of Georgia,
were among those who voted against
it.
Bitter and Spectacular Contest.
Today's vote came after one of
the most bitter and spectacular con-
tests in the senate in years. Today
charges and counter charges of re-
sponsibility for the result were hurl-
ed back and forth.
In the last effort to win over dem
ocrats opposing the measure follow
ing his address to the senate yester-
day, President Wilson today sent per-
sonal letters to Overman, of North
Carolina; Shields, of Tennessee; Ben
nett, of South Carolina; Martin, of
Kentucky, earnestly seeking their
support. The letters had no effect
on these senator's.
Both factions of the senate which
had been in almost constant and bit
ter controversy over the resolution
since it was called up last Thursday
after two former futile attempts dur
ing the spring and summer were
ready for the final issue today. The
maximum attendance of the senate
was mustered with all absentees
paired. Galleries filled early and
overfiOwed as the final vote neared,
with women of the organizations who
have fought for and against the reso-
luton for years in reserved sections.
Cummins Chides Democrats.
Il fear that little group of wilful
men," said Senator Cummins, repub-
hcan, of Iowa, "are about to defeat
a measure that the president has de-
clared is vitality necessary for the
prosecution of the war. 1t is a strange
spectacle to me-"
The Iowa senator commented on
frequent "lecturing" of the senate.
because of opposition to administra-
ton measures by Senator Williams,
of Mississippi, who opposed suffrage.
"Why does he repudiate the presi-
dent now" asked Senator Cummins,
Senator Overman, of North Caro-
Ina, reported to be against the reso-
luton, Senator Cummins declared,
had often said members had no right
to question the presidents decisions
regarding necessity of legislation.
Turning to Senator Smith. of
South Carolina, who, after the pres
resolution, Senator Cummins recalled
that the South Carolina members had
objected to inquiring into the neces-
sity for the legislation to take over
the telegraph and telephone lines.
Senator Smith replied that that pro-
posed temporary surrender of
rights" but that the pending resolu-
ton would "strike at perpetual fund
amental principles of government"
''In everything else the majority
of the senate has accepted the judg-
ment of the president" Senator Cum
minis proceeded; ''you either accept
his view or you repudiate it."
Wilson, Vardaman, Hardwick.
Referring to the recent defeat of
Senator Vardaman, of Mississippi,
democrat, for reelection following
opposition from the president, Sena-
tor Cummins said
at is not long since the president
retired the junior senator from Mis-