The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1905-02-24

the Republican party as at present con-
stituted.
If there should be a breaking up OF
party lines 1t viii show itself first In
the senate, which Is always unrespon-
siye to popular clamor. In the house of
representatives the same elements ex-
ist as are in. the senate, but they are
less conspicuous. 1t is always possible
In this body to pass an administration
measure even though many of the men
voting for 1t oppose II at heart. Men
who are compelled to go before the
voters once in two years are good
deal more careful how they act in con-
gress than men who once in six years
20 before the legislature.
The condition of the public mind has
never been so favorable for this polite
ll adjustment as now. The public con-
science has not been so thoroughly
aroused since the antislavery agitation
which gave birth to the Republican
party. A number of factors have
brought this about. The prosperity
which began in 1897 gave the great cor
poratlons more opportunities than they
had enjoyed heretofore They improved
these opportunities to the limit. For
several years newspapers and the mag
azines have been ringing the changes
on the greed of corporate wealth In Its
various avenues of activity. Communi-
ties and towns have been pauperized,
individuals have been ground under the
4, ~ aI f4fiI nd N
Gus instances the machinery of the
courts and of the legislatures has been
used to these ends. Political parties In
many states have been dehauched, the
creatures Of the trusts have been given
the highest places within the peoples
gift, and an era of shameless disregard
for the law and the rights of others has
been inaugurated.
The prosperity which began in 1897
had been under way several years be-
fore the "plain" people began to realize
the situation. Then began q protest.
Lincoln Steffens, Ida Tarbell, Ray Stan
nard Baker and many others, in maga-
zines and newspapers, began to be
heard from. A president had mean
while arisen who was in sympathy
with no debaslng influences, but who
Indicated Enthusiastically desire to de-
stroy them. With his policy In this re-
spect, from the time of the coal arbi-
tration and the first prosecution OF GER
tain trusts down to the late decision OF
the supreme court against the beef
trust. the public is familiar.
In the election of last year the awak-
ening of the public conscience was
strikingly illustrated in the election of
Douglas ms governor of Massachusetts,
Johnson rs governor of Minnesota, La
Toilette as governor of Wisconsin, Folk
as governor of Missouri and Deneen as
governor Of Illinois. 1t Is a mistake TO
assume that these men are unrelated to
the tide of public sentiment which is
sweeping over the country and support
Ing the president In his determination
Co compel the surrender of congress to
the just demands of the people.
1t may be that the trusts will volun-
tarily withdraw from the contests after
few sharp preliminary skirmishes,
and IL they do the president will get
what he wants at the hands Of con-
gress in n special session either this
spring or next fall. IL they do not
withdraw the country will witness a
battle royal between congress and the
president, in which the president will
ultimately win the victory.
1t will not be tame struggle, such as
between Cleveland and the senate when
the questions In dispute had no normal
significance, but 1t will attract the at
tention of the civilized world.
The president believes that the Unit
ed States has the moral stamina to
lead the way of all the nations in the
matters here outlined, and, while he
wants to accomplish the desired results
quietly and peacefully il possible, he Is
not the man to avoid the struggle
should there be no other way. The
president knows that as long rs the