Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-12-30

for choosing candidates for presi-
Dental nomination through the method
of direct voting. The first of these pres
idential primaries will be held March
in New Hampshire. From that date
on they will come in rapid succession
until the voters of the twenty-one
states have expressed their preference.
In many of these twenty-one
states the women have the right to
vote through state enactment. In those
states where they do not have this
right they are exceedingly anxious to
obtain it in time to participate in the
primaries. The argument they are max
ing goes to the point that If they are
to have the vote next November, when
the presidential election will be held,
they should have voice in the choos-
ing of candidates.
Want a Double Celebration.
The drive on, with the series of
western conferences behind it, has in
view the definite object of obtaining
ratification of the amendment by the
necessary three-fourths OF the states by
February 10, next year. On that date
the centenary of Susan B. Anthony,
the mother of the suffrage movement,
will be celebrated The suffrage lead
ers say that nothing could be more
fitting than to combine with the cele-
bration in memory of Susan B. An
thony a celebration expressing grati-
tude for the ratification of the con-
stitutional amendment. The speakers
that are going into the territory that
needs attention are dwelling on the APP
propriateness of finishing the constitu-
tional amendment on or before the
date of the Anthony centenary.
Twenty states, or two more than
half of the required number to ratify
the amendment, have already given ii
their support. The intensive campaign
that. has just been started is to be
felt in the far West, in the cen
trail West and in the South Suffragists
feel absolutely confident that the fol-
lowing states will ratify just as soon
as their legislatures can get to work:
4NCh
Mexico, Norts: Carolina, Vermont,
West Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Maryland, Mississippi, Virginia, New
Jersey and South Carolina, fourteen
in ALL This would bring the total af-
firmative votes for the amendment up
to thirty-four. leaving only two addi-
tional votes to be obtained. The woIn-
en- say they have at least ten oppor-
tunities for these votes that will be
lacking under their plan of computa-
ton.
Great Road Building Projects.
The United States has entered on
an era of good roads building. Be
tween July 1, 1918, and November
1, 1919, the agricultural department
approved 1,345 road projects, in
volving the Improvement of 1859
miles, at an estimated cost of approx
imately $181, 143, ga. OF this sum, APP
proximately $7S,592, 1877 represents fed
eral funds. Since the passage of the
federal aid road act 1927 projects
have been approved. These call for
the construction of 1886 miles of
road at an estimated cost of 1925, 267,-
SAT, of which about $95, 49S, 140 will be
borne by the federal government. Graf
flying progress also has been made in
connection with the national forest
N Jad work. From July 1, 1918, to No
vember 1, 1919, 40 projects, involving
923 miles of road, were approved, and
plans were completed for the improve
ment of 80 others, aggregating 94e
miles,
During the present and the next f1s-
cal year. there will be made available
for road improveme at least $1,000
100000 Certainly few laws. if any, have
produced greater results. either in
terms of expenditures for good pur-
pose or in terms of helpful legislation
and machinery, than the federal aid
road act. 1t seems clear, in the cir
cumstances, thar the principal limiting
factors in the 1920 program will be
those of rail transportation for and
production of suitable road materials
the contractors organization available,
and the labor supply. The suggestion
has been made that the federal super
vision of highways should be taken
from the department of agriculture
and placed under a federal highway
commission. A bill having this pur-
pose in view has been introduced in
the senate. 1t provides for federal
highway commission of three, each re-
ceiving salary of $4,000 a Year.
The commission is given the power
to select or establish the highways TO
be comprised in the system, after hav-
ing requested the state highway de-
partments to recommend routes, and
TO determine the order in which all or
parts of such highways shall be con-
structed, reconstructed, improved, re-
paired and maintained. The federal
government is to assume the mainte-
nance of these roads. The commission
IS furthermore empowered to take over
the work of the department of agrl-
culture relating to highway transporta-
ton.
frhe secretary of agriculture, Mr..
Houston, is opposed to this plan. He
has said to congress that the legisla-
tive body should bear in mind that
this is big country and that the traf-
fic conditions and needs vary greatly
from section to section; that the state
highway departments. being in imme-
date touch with local conditions, are
best able to classify the roads properly
on the basis of the economic purpose
which they may serve. The federal
government. the secretary points out,
under the federal aid road act. Is CO.
operating in the Improvements Of the
roads of greatest importance. the
classification of which is fixed by the
state highway departments. 1t is fur
Their pointed out that the roads of
first Importance generally meet at
state boundaries and therefore be-
come interstate highways of nation