The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-08-02
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Hunting the bull moose Is engaging
the attention OF the two great polit-
teal parties. 1t Is not ii sport, but q
business. Not with gun and intent to
kill. but with all the tempting bait
that can be offered Is the big game
pursued. The problem of the cam
paign Is the bull oos vote. III II
could be definitely determined where
the Progressives will go, then there
would be an end OF the contest.
The Progressives OF four years age
hold the balance of power this year.
Hence the bull moose Is being petted
and coddied by both parties. You
won't find any OF the politicians say.
ing a single thing to offend any bull
moose still at large, although there is
plenty OF criticism Of those who have
been rounded up with one party or the
other.
Statistics Not Reliable.
"You might as well put away your
pencil and little tablet" was the oh
~servation of an old timer at the Re
publican headquarters. you can show
anything you desire by the figures of
former campaigns. But what Is the
use of tottin' up tables OF figures and
showing big majorities until you find
out where all those Progressive votes
Of four years ago are goingr'
The campaign managers viii give
attanttnn 40 fhn location ~ fhn1n unfal
and until they are located the system
OF averages and percentages will not
be of much value.
"votss Of Women"
"votes for women" is a cry that has
been heard until II has become very
familiar. They have changed It a lit
tie, changed the proposition. Votes
of women is nm important factor in
this campaign. In eleven states the
women vote for presidential electors.
If they should vote anywhere near
solidly they could carry those eleven
states. Those states could determine
the election.
But nc n believes that the women
are going to vote solidly for one party
or the other. The same great interests
which affect the men and cause them
10 vote one way or another Is apt to
influence the women.
IL has been asserted that the women
will oppose the Democrats because
that party has not aided suffrage In
congress. On the other hand, there
are many women who are inclined TO
be for President Wilson on account OF
the slogan. HE has kept US out OF
war!"
"Something May Happen"
All these men who are talking and
specializing upon the outcome OF the
election have a reservation about the
possibility OF something happening
during the progress OF the campaign TO
change the result. Consequently the
political prophet must hedge with In
III something should happen" or words
to the same effect. The party prophets
do not make any such allowances.
They are predicting now and will be
predicting Just as boldly right up to
election day. even IL the campaign be
comes as lopsided as IL was -four years
ago.
Confidence and Gloom.
Curtously enough. the Democrats
start with the same confidence that
has been apparent In every presidential
year saw 1896. And curiously enough
there is the same gloom or pessimistic
feeling among Republicans as was
found In the early stages of the cam
paigns OF 1904, 1908 and 1912. Any
person familiar with national politics
is struck by the characteristics of the
two parties I'm this regard-buoyancy
among Democrats, anxiety among Re
publicans: Democrats cheerfully conf
dent, Republicans seriously doubtful.
This does not apply TO the Repub
hcan managers, but TO the men who
come and go and who have been rather
disappointed because the campaign
has been slow In getting under way.
England In Dur Politics.
England is getting mixed In our poll
tics to a considerabl extent and may
cut quite a figure In the campaign.
Blacklisting of American business
men, opening OF United States mails
and denying Americans the privilege
Of aiding their friends I'm Ireland may
become quite an issue IL the admins
tration does not make its protests eff
fectfve.
The Troops on the Border.
The Mexican question has been con.
sidered the weak point In the Wilson
administration, and 1t is possible that
the retention Of the state troops on the
border will become one Of the issues.
To be used simply for patrol duty is
very unsatisfactory to the men. They
want actual service or they want to
go back to their occupations. 1t liz NO
longer a lark to remain In camps In q
hot climate in this weather. And near
~ all of them are writing home and
N~nun&~luA tho@~ op4~lnwa