The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-12-18

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" 1920 Twenty-one OF the states have
In one form or another made provision
for choosing candidates for presi-
ientlal nomination through the method
Of direct voting. The first Of these pres
ldentlal 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 u IN time TO participate In the
primaries. The argument they are max
Ing goes to the point that II they are
10 have the vote next November, when
the presidential election will be held.
they should have voice in the choos-
ing Of candidates.
Want Double Celebration.
The drive on. with the series OF
western conferences behind II, has In
view the definite object Of obtaining
ratification of the amendment by the
necessary three-fourths Of the states by
February ~. next year. On that date
the centenary OF Susan Il. Anthony.
the mother Of the suffrage movement.
viii be celebrated. The suffrage lead
ers say that nothing could be more
fitting than to combine with the cele-
bration In memory of Susan II. An
thony celebration expressing graft
tude for the ratification Of the con-
stitutional amendment. The speakers
that are going into the territory that
needs attention are dwelling on the ap-
propriateness Of finishing the constitu
tional amendment on or before the
date Of the Anthony centenary.
Twenty states. or two more than
Lalf 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-
as their legislatures can get to work:
Connecticut. Delaware, Florida. New
Mexico. North 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 wom-
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 12,159
miles, at an estimated cost of approx
imately S1S1, 143,644 OF this sum, APP
proximately s7s,592, 167 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 SOS ,267.-
BAT, of which about sos. 498,140 will be
borne by the federal government. Graf
flying progress also has been made In
connection with the national forest
ad work. From July 1. 1913. to No
vember 1. 1919, 20 projects, involving
923 miles of road, we're approved. and
plans were completed for the improve
ment of 80 others. aggregating e46
miles.
During the present and the next is
cal year, there will be made available
for road improvements at least $1,000
OOO, 900. Certainly few laws. II any. have
produced greater results. either In
terms of expenditures for a good pur-
pose or in terms Of helpful legislation
and machinery. than the federal aid
road act. 1t seems clear, In the cir
cumstapces, that 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. II provides for a federal
highway commission of three. each re-
ceiving salary of $4,000 yvar
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
10 determine the order In which all or
parts of such highways shall be con-
structed, reconstructed. improved. re-
haired 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 agrt-
culture relating to highway transporta-
ton.
The secretary Of agriculture. Mr..
Houston, is opposed to this plan. He
h.s satd IN congress that the legisla-