The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-12-30

III - kQ0d NGMN0f-9AA VIZ HtGttf~
bers Of Presidents Official Family Do
Not Join the Crowd OF Pessimists.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. Dec. 30.-iSpecial mo
one can tell just what gets into the
air. but the political thermometer goes
up and down. First IL appears that
the Democrats can't lose, then that
they can't win. hen that the Repub-
iicans can win with anybody, and soon
we hear that they can't win with any
body save Hughes.
Just at present there is a slump in
the Democratic party. The men Of
that party see looming ahead Of them
many rocks. some of which may be
only shadows, but they look mighty
forbidding at the present time. IL
sounds strange TO hear many leading
Democrats say, I'VE can't win" II
Is also n fact that many Democrats
are telling Republicans that they the
Republicans win be coming back into
power soon.
And Who Can Tell Why7
Who can tell why there should be
depression among Democrats just now
or course the answer may be that the
Democrats cannot assimilate the pre-
paredness dose; that the thought OF
additional taxation on top Of the emer-
gency tax which has Just beer re
newed Is very distasteful: the general
unpopularity that hits an administra-
ton midway through the term. and
many other things car account for the
condition. But even these things, some
OF them In the future, do not seem TO
be sufficient to cause so much doleful-
ness among the Democrats. In this
connection IL must be said that the
pessimism does not extend to the fed
eral administration. Few OF the men
under the president have any doubt
about his success next year
Roads Have Friends.
Good roads legislation still has a
place In the minds OF members of con
gress. Those who were SO vociferous
for large expenditures for government
roads continue to introduce bills ap-
prop-iating twenty-five to one hundred
millions for roads. but they lack the
enthusiasm which they had a few
years since. They may be for roads.
hut they know that all the spare money
must 60 for military purposes In these
times ever In we all say we are not
going to have "A war
No One Has Responded.
No n has responded 10 the want
ad. of Leader Kitchln for n recipe
that will allow n good and popular tax
levy 10 be made. The stamp taxes we
now have" remarked Congressman
Ragsdaie OF South Carolina. ARE max.
ing enemies every day. Every time a
{ is renewed or a paper executed
some poor man has to pay for those
stamps. Every man who goes into n
telephone booth and telephones outside
his immediate vicinity has TO pay q
tax. Every time a telegraph message
Is sent a tax is paid. Now. If we put
that stamp tax on bank checks we will
take money out of banks and send IL
back to hiding places. as people with
small bank accounts win try to avoid
the tax. | am going to oppose every
kind of tax that is offered"
Our Dear Did Friend.
Congressman Oglesby Of New York
has come forward with our dear old
friend, the bill 10 prevent the desecra-
ton and misuse OF the American flag.
1t has one to It's usual long resting
place. the committee on judiciary.
Here is one of those bills which every
body Is for, but which never get much
beyond the introduction stage.
Sesregating the Races.
Congressman Edwards Of Georgia
scarcely hopes TO have his bin passed
which provides for the segregation of
the races in the federal departments.
Some ~segregating has beer done by
cabinet officers. but no congress would
60 to the length Of passing a law sep
arating whites and blacks In the gov
eminent employ.
They Learned Something.
Ira Bond, who for a long time has
beer a Washington correspondent. has
taken up the c%ongenial employment OF
conducting parties about the capitol
n showing them the points of inter
est. Not long g he was showing a
party OF sightseers the senate Just
as he began his spiel" two well
known correspondents stepped to the
door Of the senate chamber. You
will see just entering the chamber"
said Bond without batting an eye,
two Of the best known correspond
ents from the press gallery. They are
giving their names and have long
been associated with the prominent
men OF the nation. They have come
here to listen TO a description of this