Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1914-08-13
QUALIFICATIONS FOR sELF-GovERNMENT.

ttNo nation is fitted for self government, - declared Miss Jones
in her speech at the court house square Monday evening, 'wh"n 1t
will vote five hundred million dollars to prosecute a "a IN MS
great twentieth century"
OF course, and naturally, the speaker thought tat" if the women
of the civilized world had been accorded the privilege Of the fran
chise some time ago there would have been II o war declared IN 1914
Whether this view is well founded or whether If is not, no one
Knows, because there has been no opportunity to test the question:
but substantially all of us will agree with the deduction that the
appropriating of a half bllon-the appropriation in Great Britain
is above a billion, instead of a half billion-is an evidence that we
have not advanced in civilization to the extent that we have been
nrediting ourselves.
Wa between nations is merely an enlargement OF personal war
fare characterized by the street fight. All civilized nations have
laws whereby participants in personal encounters Of that sort may
be punished Men who engage in fstc combats, in either public or
private places, are run in when caught at 1t, and the courts uni
yersaIy impose a fine upon the aggressor, if not both participants
But what shall we say of nations that engage in similar strife?
War is but a test of physical strength and endurance, and, in mod
srn times, largely a test of financial strength. 1t is a relic of bar
barism.
But. in principle, it differs but little from the test so frequently
applied in commercial pursuits, wherein one party Or element is
pated against another for control of business or property interests
IN the financial battle there is no personal risk, which constitutes
the chief difference between it and physical warfare.
When the Morgans were freezing out competitive interests
IN New England under Mr., Mellen's supervision, they were doing
only what Germany and France, Russia and Austria, are doing
Today.
All Of which goes TO show that our modern civilization is not
SO very modern, after all. True, we don't burn witches al. the stake,
although we now and then apply that sort of punishment to the
black culprit of the south, nor do we string men up by the thumbs
and apply the forty 1ashes. but, nevertheless, within certain restric-
tons, we are doing things equally as reprehensible.
n il not TO he wondered at, then, thatsa question is raised con-
cefn1ng u o selt-BoVefnnnent Notwithstanding our boast
ed civilization.
But even if we are not, it is altogether likely that, s. far as
we now know from actual experience, there is nobody better fitted
to govern is sunless, well, that is, unless Miss Jones is right about
the eminent qualifications of the women in that directioni
The Aberdeen News thinks that now that former Senator Curtis
has reeaptursd the republican nomination from Senator Bristow,
by somewhere from two to four thousand majority, there is a golden
opportunity for Curtis to show what sort of stuff he lis made of in
the pending political battle in Kansas. The defeat of Senator Bris-
tow may q IT may not be an Indication Of the reactionary tendencies
I'm TX nnons& Tho Sa+nnJar Man. LII. 4Ls1-#4 l-I @.4I:. $500 uL..i
more inclined to- the belief that Senator .Braow failed to measure
Up 70 his opportunities, having a tendency to content himself with
faultIhndlng and criticism rather than to devote himself especially
io6 constructive legislation. His radcalsm broke loose in spots;
sometimes he was too radieal, while at other times he gave the I'M
aression that he was reachonary. The Curtis victory in Kansas is
probably more personal between the two contending aspirants than
political.
The Saturday News is inclined to agree with the Fargo Forum
and the Iroquois Chief in that the farm machinery manufacturers
have blundered in refusing to continue their exhibits at state fairs
One Of the chief factors in preciptating and encouraging so much
legislation IN recent times may be traced, we believe,
se the inconsiderate policies Of the great railroad magnates in disre
garding popular impressions and in plunging into questionable tram
saetionss in the face Of the public demand for less manipulation Of
stocks and bonds The decision of the farm implement wholesalers
to refrain from exhibiting their wares at fairs according to custom
handed down since fairs became popular attractions, Will tend 70
create the impression that these concerns care nothing for public
opinion. ~s
$780,.
England and France, says the Argus-Leader, have proclaimed
\ moratorium for 4 month, That means that during the exist
snee st the order no one IS obliged 70 pay his debts Thus even
Wr Sns isa compensations Is Well, some of ms might feel con
S s n ad ! suggest thata moratorium in America may Be proclaimed
for III time If nobody owed us and We owed everybody We don't
s# new nnt mat we might be induced ~ suggest that the state militia
so1nmence shooting right away
Ihe whole nation extends u President Wilson and his bereft
1smly lss heartfelt sympathy ia the loss of his beloved helpmate
nnose Wo 81 yu Isaats had drawn e her the warm friendships of the
people MIS- Wilson was d woman OF queAnly charms, s mother
goss asg superior qualities, whose heart pulsated Id harmony with
'ees ass't essts St nsnkiad .sr anssinslys death 4 national loss
9oAenetN lenrasW atterson seems Ia think that Colonel Theodore
SneO aasn ades sofs ths be stckss toS pour Il bottle 81 Cline on the
&RrssaAenGal chaar and then seat himself on #t Mrhe two dstins