The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1911-08-11
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON
Current News Of the Week Importance in Which
South Dakota Figures.

congress was the reply by Chair
man Underwood of the Ways and
Means Committee to the attacks
made upon him by William Jen-
nlngs Bryan. Amid scenes of in
tense excitement Mr.. Underwood
rose in the house a few days ago,
and "threw his shining lance'
full at the breast of his Nebaska
enemy. Taking up the charge of
! Bryan ito the effect that Under
wood opposed an immediate re-
vision of the iron and steel
schedule, and had betrayed the
Democratic party of which he is
the leader in the house. Mr..
Underwood offered defense
which was substantiated by his
fellow congressman, that seemed
to thoroughly annihilate and ex-
plode the Bryan charges. Mr..
Underwood for the second time
this session, has put the thrice
candidate for the presidency out
of business in Washington, and
this time he has made it impos-
sible for Mr.. Bryan to command
any support in the framing of le-
, gislation by the democratic house
Underwood's mastery so far as
the house is concerned is complet
and he and his followers here
seem absolutely unconcerned as
to whether the present break in
the democratic party is likely to
have any influence in the politi-
cal contest of 1912.
It is questionable if there is a
single member of congress who
does not appreciate the fact that
sentiment throughout the coun-
try in reference to the annexa-
tion to Canada to the United
States is more general than at
any time since the passage of the
Canadian reciprocity measure.
Both the United States and the
Canadian governments have de-
MED that any such alliance has
been proposed or even consider
ed, and this is unquestionably
true, so far as official circles
are concerned. But there is an
undercurrent of public opinion,
and while annexation may be
only a conjecture, still if some
thing does not happen to allay
this sentiment that is growing
among many people, then 1t is
sure that it cannot shoulder on
indefinitely. The time is coming
when the issue will have to be
met by the two governments.
The ever-interesting question
of improving the condition among
the youths of the country, is like.
ly to secure substantial impetus
in the action Of Senator Page
of Vermont. He proposes to Sc
cure legislation to aid the boy
scout movement. There are now
thousands of boy scouts through
out the country and the genreal
influence of the movement is
spreading. Senator Page says
that he thinks the boy a better
equipped man by far when he
reaches the age Of twenty-one
than the boy who has not had the
benefit of scout craft instruct
ions. The Page bill is drawn
with particular reference to ed
uc;ltion that will advance agri-
culture.
Congressman Victor L, Berger,
the Wisconsin socialist, declares
that cold working men and work
ing women are entitled to liv-
ing outside the poor houses and
without the aid of private
charities, and for that purpose
he has introduced a bill providing
for a basic pension of 50 a week
| for every man or woman more
than sixty years of age. Mr..
Berger says that if the old partie
and the supreme court do not
realize the facts he has advanc-
ed that "they will be wiped out
of existence together with the
old constitution" He points
out the fact that old age pension
laws have been passed in the
principal nations of Europe.
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