The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-12-29

Financial Powers.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. Dec. 29.-[Special =
Isn't 1t queer that Theodore Roosevelt
should cut such a big figure I'm politics?
As long ago as the winter of 1909 /
was told by one OF the wisest politi-
clans In the senator be was SO con
sidered-that Roosevelt was a dead
duck" that he never would haye any
more power. And yet see what he has
accomplished in politics since then.
lie has wrecked the Republican par
ty, and he is now looked upon by
many as the one man who can restore
1t to power. 1t Is believed that he viii
either be the candidate or name the
man-at least that no man unsatisfac.
tory to him will he named.
And all this time he IL the most hat
ed man IN the country by those calling
themselves the real Republicans.
A Democratic Prediction.
lie was In a group OF Democrats. and
the Gary-Roosevelt dinner was under
discussion. The idea was put forward
that Roosevelt might be the Republic
an nominee.
The Republicans will not start q
campaign with a mllllonaires' dinner
remarked one who thought he knew.
What difference will that make as
10 ROOSEVELT inquired a man who
knew the colonel. All his life he has
been associated with those people. lie
had them at the White House constant
~. He took money from them for his
campaigns. and yet the people contin-
ued TO believe In him"
And that Is one of the funny things
In politics. The people refuse to be
lieve that Roosevelt In contaminated
with money because he associates with
big business.
Making Wry Faces.
Democrats who have yet to swallow
the preparedness medicine which Dr.
Wilson has handed them are still max
ing wry faces. There are quite d mum
ber OF them who do not like the Idea
Of voting S200.O00.0OO a year more for
defense. especially those who declared
SO often only less than a year ago that
We were already paying too much for
military purposes.
The Silence OF Jim Tawney.
One Of the greatest advocates Of dis
armament and one who fought all
kinds of military preparedness IL now
keeping silent In every language and
dialect he knows. That Is Hon. James
A. Tawney of Minnesota. Jim Tawney
has been for years the most o~utspoken
advocate of reducing military expendi-
lures. Ii was Tawney who discovered
during he time be was chairman of
the committee on appropriations that
II per cent of the revenues OF the gov
eminent were being used for wars past
or wars 10 come. But In all the ex-
element there has been over military
preparation and large expenditures
there has not been a peep from
Tawney.
National Chairman Unimportant.
People c~uriousIy enough attach Inn
portance TO what chairmen of nation
al committees say aud do between the
time of one national election and an
other. AS a matter of fact. they be
come unimportant men In politics
when the election Is over. No chair
man save Mark Hanna has ever had
any influence ON political affairs, and
that was because be was Hanna and
not because he was chairman.
For tho most fWanfy tauf Hnun nf
the chairmen OF national committees
has been able TO influence national
conventions. What they said and did
amounted TO little.
Underwood's Bale of Cotton.
Last winter every southerner had to
buy a bale of cotton. Senator Morris
Sheppard Of Texas started tile game,
and oil loyal southerners invested in
at least one bale. Leader Underwood
was among the number. His bale was
shipped 10 him at Birmingham. Dur
ing the summer a church fair wanted
something for a prize, and they took
Underwood's bale. which had been on
exhibition in a shop window. and sold
tickets on ii. lust who finally took
possession OF the Dale UNDERWOOD Is
unable to say. but he knows that he
received neither principal nor profit on
that bale of cotton.
May Delay Dry Fight.
Party considerations may delay the
efforts to force prohibition upon the
national capital. The Democrats are
In control Of congress, and they may
decide that IL would be unwise to force
the liquor fight to the front just OF the
threshold of a campaign.
No Australian Meat.
When meat went on the free list ii
al expected that the United States
would receive considerable quantities
from Australia. and for a time a few
shiploads were landed In this country.
But that has all stopped since the war