The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-10-27
RAPS THE DEMOCRATS
CONGRESSMAN BURKE ADDRESS,
ED A MADISON AUDIENCE
AT THE OPERA HOUSE
LAST EVENING.


"
A fair-sized, but unusually atten-
tive audience, with a sprinklipg of
ladies. greeted Congressman Burke at
the opera house last evening. The
speaker was introduced by States At
| torney Holdridge In a very cultured
| manner, and after a few words con-
g~ratulatory of the people of Lake
county and expressing his pleasure at
being among them, the congressman
launched into a criticism of the ex-
listing democratic administration for
its alleged reckless expenditures of
money, it's voting of a war tax in
time of peace and discriminating leg
islation in favor of the south as
against other portions of the country
in compliance with the boast that the
south was in the saddle" Mr..
| Burke was optomistic in his belief,
however, that the republicans would
return to power in 1916.
The address opened with a review
of the contest between the republican
and the democratic parties during the
past fifty years. third parties spring
ing up and passing away, leaving the
two great parties to continue the po-
litical battles of the nation. The re-
publican party has been generally in
control, but there have been two
breaks in the chain. 1t is not pleasant
to remember the period between 1892
and 1896, the Cleveland regime. But
with the Inauguration of Mckinley
I'm 1897 opened a period of sixteen
years of the country's greatest pros
~~-.~ f 1910 thz nrn - $40 a.
again gained control and it is well
perhaps to consider what is happen
ing. To begin with, idleness of men
and business utilities are apparent.
There are three or four times as
many idle freight cars as there was
before. The passage of the Under
wood tariff bill is responsible for this.
THE passage of this bill does not mean
that the principle of protection has
been voted down by the American
people. The democratic victory in
1912 was a minority one. o against
a divided republican party.
South Dakota is an agricultural
section and it may be well to see just
what the democratic tariff bill has
done for this section. Seventeen ag-
ricultural items were placed on the
free list and five other items material
ly reduced. On the other hand the
products of the southern farmer were
placed on the protected list, a dis
elimination against the northern
farmer and in favor of the southern
farmer. The democratic majority in
congress is represented by southern
senators and representatives and
L 4 \ nxr thAyN aud thn ITndnrtwAn
tariff bill the southern farmers have
been benefited directly against the in
terests of the farmers of the north
Money spent for public buildings and
other improvements in the south is
three-fold as much as in the north.
The speaker did not desire to be &C
cused of sectionalism, but he invited
his hearers to look the facts in the
face.
Mr.. Burke called especial attention
to the democratic wal tax of s105,-
0O0, 900. We have no war in this
country, yet we are told 1t is neces-
sary to levy this tax to keep the gov
Iernment going. Something had to be
done, with the customs duties falling
off, in order that the governments
Expenses might be met. The republi-
cans did not favor this war tax. We
Republicans in congress were charged
with being unpatriotic for not favor
ing this war tax. In 1898 the demo
cratic minority harassed President
Mckinley with its untimely demands
for wal with Spain, but in the Mex
lean troubles the republican minority
offered no amendments, made no
speeches and did nothing to embarass
President Wilson in his policies. 1t
is not a question of patriotism. 1t is
worthy of note hat the war tax meas
ure which the democrats favor in a
time of peace Is essentially the same
as the one they opposed while we
were actually engaged in a war with
Spain. A sample of democratic in
consistency.
The democrats have scored the re-
lpublicans in past years for their profit
gate waste. The present congress
has exceeded all others in expendi-
lures by over 500, 1000, 900. That is
why the expenses of the government
are $125,00O a day higher than under
any other administration.
Much was said about the high cost
of living in the last election, but has
there been any noticeable reduction
under the present democratic admin
istration of which 81 many promises
were made?
Mr.. Burke closed with an urgent
appeal for all voters to go to the
polls and vote on election day, and
| appealed to republican voters to vote
the republican ticket from top to bot
tom. The candidates on the repub-
lican ticket had been nominated at
the primary elections and they were
entitled to the votes of all republic
ans. He paid a high tribute to the
work of Congressman C. H. Dillon OF
this the First congressional district,
as a faithful and hard working repre-
sentative. He also endorsed Gov. F.
M. Byrne as a man who during his
first term had given the state a good
administration.
The address throughout was with
out passion, delivered in a calm and
dignifed manner, and while the con-
- a. ~