Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-12-26

duce the cost of things which men,
women and children must have IN
order to live. In brief the Democrats
still regard the high cost Of living
problem as the Ii great problem to
be solved in order to make certain the
continuance of the party in power.
Excited Over Precedence Dispute.
Take currency legislation, anti
trust problems, government built
railroads. independence for the Fill
pinos, Mexico and half a dozen 9th,
er things which have beer centers for
public attention recently, roll them to-
gether in one bundle. and the COM
bination will not hold half the inter
est for senators and members Of the
house of representatives that today Is
held by the small, but compact bundle
containing the question "Who shall
precede?" at the social affairs in the
nations capital?
When the personal element tine
tured with a little Of the essence OF
jealousy and a good zeal of the es-
n of pride, enters into a thing it
has a more ~heart-burning interest than
anything political or Legislative The
senators of the United States are de-
claring that they should walk ahead
of the cabinet officers at all the Off
cial and semi-oticial receptions and
gatherings of any kind which are held
in Washington. If the senators gain
their point it will mean that as guests
Of honor at purely private functions
also they will ave higher seats
thar the cabinet officers.
Sees U~surpation by Cabinet.
One of the senators maintains that
the cabinet has been put ahead of the
senate in the line of precedence and
prominence because of the assump
ton of power in legislative matters by
cabinet officers to which they have
neither a constitutional nor a personal
right. This senator says hat IN the
last few years members OF the cab
met nave attempted to influence leg
i~slation and that in some cases they
have succeeded, and that for this rea-
son they seem to think that they are
greater than the members Of the leg
slative body.
Others do not look upon the mat
ter in this light, but say that the cab
met members have taken precedence
in social affairs and in semi-ofticial at
fairs because they are members OF the
presidents official family, and there
fore are supposed to be as close to his
! person in the social line as they are in
the daily business line. Whatever it
is, it is certain that cabinet officers by
custom are given The right OF way,
and now senator's are trying to get it
away from them,
Nobody yet knows how this matter
is to be settled. The chances are, how
ever, that the cabinet officers will con-
tinue to lead because Of their position
relative to that of the president of the
United States.
~InsuIar Policy to Be Attacked.
When the Democrats take up leg
islation looking to giving freedom
to the Filipinos, or take up In
fact any Philippine legislation, 1t
is believed to be the intention of the
Republicans and of some Progressive
members not only to attack the island
policy of the administration, but to
take President Wilson to task for his
utterance in his message on former
methods of government in Porto Rico
and the Philippines.
Former President Taft a defended
the course of this government in the
Philippines and has inveighed against
the proposal of the Democrats to give
the islanders independence in short
order. Dean c.. Worcester, formerly
a member Of the Philippine commits
sion, and who was in the islands in
IN official capacity for II years., it is
expected will attack the Democratic
plan and give answer to President
Wilson's words in lectures which he
expects to deliver throughout the
country this winter
Lively Row May Result.
1t Is altogether probable that If the
Republicans and Progressives move to
the attack on the administration, Mr..
Wilson and the Democratic leaders in
house and senate will be prepared for
defense, but the opposition says that
the reports of work in the Philippines
and Porto Rico turned in by officials,
both Democrats and Republicans,
show that every effort has been made
in the islands to bring progress in
the government and in the betterment
of the people, and that the results will
prove that the presidential criticism
is %unfounded and unjust. 1t looks as
if there might be a lively row on
island matters before spring.
Men opposed politically to the pres
| emf administration are pointing to the
reports of the chiefs of the bureau of
insular affairs as proof hat the is
lands are progressing and that Ameri-
can domination has dom much for
them. Brig. Gen. Clarence R. Ed
wards, who formerly was chief of the
bureau of insular affairs, was an ap-
p~ointee and a strong personal friend
Of President Taft. The mar who sue
ceeded him in office, Brig. Gen. Frank
Mcintyre, United States army, is an
Alabaman and a Democrat. General
McIntyre's reports on island condi-
tons show progress and apparently
good government. 1t is probable that
this Democratic officials report will
be used largely by the critics OF the
words the president used in his mes
sage.