The Washington times., 1920-03-07
B|GPART|ESAT
SEA0N ISSUES
Women's Vote, Liquor, Treaty,
Wilson's Silence, and Early
Stamping" Puzzles.

Five angles of uncertainty are
thrusting themselves out Of the
political situation as the pre-conven-
ton campaign gathers speed.
Summed up by political observ-
ers here today, they are;
Uncertain Angles
The strong probability that women
throughout the country will vote in
the next Presidential election, and
perhaps in many preference pri-
maries.
The liquor question.
The peace treaty.
President Wilson's silence as to his
future political intentions.
The new tactics of winning dele
gates which has resulted In Ave
Presidential candidates being ION the
road" today In quest of popular sup
port that will make itself felt at the
June conventions.
Any one OF these, politicians say.
would make political dope at this
time very uncertain.
See sure Vote by Women.
The probability OF women voting
next fall was declared by suffrage
leaders today to be almost a certainty.
The suffrage amendment to the con-
stitution they predicted would be rati-
fed before April /.
The hopes of suffragists are based
on three States-West Virginia, Wash
I ington. and Delaware. Thirty-three
States have already ratified.
The West Virginia Senate has twice
tied on the question Of ratification.
but Senator Bloch is now reported
hurrying from California to Charles
ton to cast the deciding vote in favor
of suffrage.
Officials of the National Women's
party today said they had received
word from Delaware that the gov
ernor has promised to call the legis-
lature into special session to consider
the suffrage amendment and the
women believe they will win in that
state.
Washinslon's gislature is also to
meet this month and suffrage leaders
say they are sure of ratification there.
Liquor to De Question.
The wet and dry question so far
has been largely a long distance de-
bate between Governor Edwards of
New Jersey, and William Jennings
Bryan. The chances of other candi-
dates escaping this issue, however,
are regarded as slim since the Anti
Saloon League has indicated it will
put the'issue up to political aspirants
everywhere.
Edwards. who has come out as the
wet candidate for President on the
Democratic ticket. will have the sup
, port of his own State. and he is the
only Democratic aspirant who has
. filed in the Illinois primaries. This is
| certain to bring the liquor question
! onto the floor of the Democratic con-
vention Al least.
The treaty has been discussed and
rediscussed as a political question.
Predictions have even been made that
it will bring about political align
ment and that President Wilson will
be a candidate of the treaty party.
Wilson Unlikely to Run.
Wilson himself has said nothing,
but there are many indications that
he will not run. One OF these is the
entrance of Attorney General Palmer,
one of Wilson'S supporters in the
Georgia primaries.
That Wilson's silence is proving an
embarrassment to Democrats who as
pire to succeed him Is shown by the
fact that of the Ave candidates on
stumping tours only one was a Dem
ocrat and four were Republicans.
OF the Republicans, General Wood
spoke last night. at Manchester. n.
H.; Senator Harding is touring the
Southwest; Senator Johnson is just
finishing up a tour Of South Oak ta
and Governor Lowden is in Mime
sofa.
James w. Gerard, the lone Demo-
cratic stumper. has also been in
South Dakota this week.
The spectacle of so many stump.ng
tours three months before convention
time and eight months before election
is a new one, political observers here
agree.
Wood Forces Campaign.
The new tactics are credited by
politicians here to the aggressive
campaign made by General Wood. It
was an unwritten rule, generally fol-
lowed, that rival candidates would
not invade the home States of favor:tc