The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-01-03

thing OF u politician. He is not likely
to drag out this treaty on the thresh-
old of a political campaign. To do
SO would not make a single friend for
the administration, while it would he
sure to make enemies.
T. r. Would Welcome II.
If anything should happen to make
Colonel Roosevelt the candidate against
Wilson he would like nothing better
than u scrap over the Colombia treaty.
Il took Panama; 1t was necessary in
order to build the canal he has said
say so on the stump If the Colombian
treaty were an issue.
Not only would ii be shown that Co
lombia has now better rights thar an
other country In the canal, but. rs a
matter OF fact, that the canal is OF
other country in proportion TO ller pop
ulation and wealth.
The Colombian treaty would also re-
vive the Panama canal tolls, and SO il
will be allowed to rest I'm its pigeon
hole.
Rural Delivery Storm.
Postmaster General Burleson Is fac
ing a rural delivery storm. Two years
ago he tried TO curtaiI the pay Of rural
carriers, or, rather. to establish Il con
tract system which would have elimi-
mated many OF them, and the house
broke into a whirlwind. But. In spite
of legislation designed to keep the ru-
raj service just as II had been. Burleson
has consolidated routes and established
motor service. letting out many ear
riers and otherwise changing the best
political machine congressman had In
their districts. There is going to be a
storm about 1t III congress. The NUT
terings have been heard. 4 southern
Democrat has sounded a warning, but
there is more to come. Rural free de
livery Is sacred TO a considerable num-
Der of congressman, most of them in
fact.
Those Queer Arguments.
Hysterical reference has been made
To the report of the chief Of artillery.
who shows that the seacoast fortifica-
lions are only half manned. Seacoast
cities near these places have shared a
scare ON account OF this report. And
vet we have columns OF facts, figures
embellished with pictures, to show how
absolutely worthless are all the so
called coast defenses. Modern war
ships with their big guns. we are told,
could stand beyond the range OF any OF
our fortifications and destroy them and
the cities they were designed to pro-
tect. Why have more men in these
Notifications? They would constitute
SO many more useless men.
Gentlemen prove too much" old
Pete Hepburn once remarked, and that
may be true in regard to preparedness.
One Cent Postage.
Advocates Of one cent postage are
still active. Many bills have been in
troduced reducing letter postage one
half. but there is not much chance for
such a reduction with the revenues In
their present condition.
Too Valuable to Fight.
During his speech against prepared
ness Congressman Mondell paraphras-
ed a remark OF the president. Speak
ing of one of the big English dread
naughts, he said she steamed up TO Il
Turkish battery and then backed away.
"She was too valuable to fight" said
the Wyoming man.
That recalls the Spanish war days.
All OF our best ships at hat time were
too valuable to risk against the Span
ish shore batteries.
Rural Credits Going Through.
Some sort of rural credits bill is to
he passed early in the session. The
party in power has made up its mind
that this promise for the benefit of the
farmer must be redeemed. No one
will be able to tell much about the bill
or what it will do. but it is q step in
the direction which foreign govern
ments have taken for the farmers.
Senatorial Ambitions.
The greatest s~elishncss displayed
among senators is i'm regard to com.
mittee assignments. 1t is the ambition
of many Of them to secure places on
two OF the big four" committees In
the senate. and a real pushing senator
can achieve that distinction. The won
der is that the other senators sit back
and see several men grab off so many
good committee places, while they are
relegated to comparatively unimportant
assignments. But the fellow In the
senate who will not push himself can
not ind any one to push Sor him.