The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-08-19
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Washington, Aug. 19.-[Speeial. lit
has often been asserted that there is
or should be no politics in the supreme
court. But men were partisans before
they became members of the court and
the partisanship of Mr.. Hughes since
he became the Republican candidate
shows that a man does not lose his
party feeling by becoming a justice Of
the highest court.
In this connection II IN interesting to
note hat In all probability the political
complexion OF the court will he
changed If Mr.. Wilson Is reelected and
that for the first time In fifty years a
majority OF the court viii he Demo
Gratis.
At the present there are five Repub-
leans and -four Democrats on the
court. the resignation Of Justice
Hughes giving Mr.. Wilson an oppor-
tunity to add the fourth Democrat to
the membership.
Possible Changes.
Before March 4. 1921. when the next
presidential term will end. Chief JUS
tice White will be seventy-five, Justice
Holmes seventy mine, Justice McKenna
seventy-seven and Justice Day seventy
one. In all probability the first three
win leave the court during the e
presidential term. If their places were
filled with Democrats the tribunal
would stand six Democrats to three
Republicans.
While 1t Is often said that politics
should not be considered in regard to
the court Ii Is nevertheless a fact that
a great many people of influence think
1t does, and that interest In the coming
election will be affected TO some extent
ON account OF the situation In the SUI
preme court.
Sh-shl Sh-shl The Bog1 Mani!
Chairman Stone OF the foreign rela-
tions committee lectured the senate
and the newspapers because the Dan
ish treaty was printed. 1T was a breach
OF faith. dishonorable and against pub
lie interests, he said.
After an experience of more than
twenty-five years | can assert that
there never was a time when 1t would
not have been far better TO have had
every treaty made public and the dis
cussion OF such treaties In the open
than to have pursued the secretive
policy.
Senator Borah combated the views
OF Senator Stone ON the subject Of
publicity OF the treaty. and that leads
to the question. What Is all this mys-
FERROUS secrecy about. anyway? Let's
have a look at the bogy man.
Big Real Estate Deal.
Senator Borah said II was a real es-
tate deal. Well, 1t is a pretty big one.
a $25,00O,O00 transaction, making those
sandy islands of the Caribbean cost us
about 1896 per acre.
But the real question Is, What mo-
mentous thing Is under the surface,
limited at In Denmark and here. that
makes the transfer so Immediately
necessary? And why Is 1t necessary
to hurry through the transaction and
pay such a tremendous sum? 1t was
Hamlet whom Shakespeare caused to
remark, There's something rotten I'm
Denmark Does that condition pre-
vail now as well as in the days of the
melancholy Dane?
Two Significant utterances.
Senator Ashurst of Arizona told the
senate he was opposed to any adjourn
ment until there had been a vote on
the immigration bill. Senator Myers
nf Montana uQfd hn prnS f.tllx~ a.. m
cord with Ashurst. The significance
of these utterances is that both sen
ators are candidates for reelection this
fall, and they know the temper of their
people on this question.
Hammer and longs"
1--WE are going after them hammer
and tongs!' shouted Minority Leader
Mann on the night of the Mckinley
reception to Chairman Wilcox. Them
meant the. Democrats. Perhaps Mr.
Hughes took a tip from the words OF
the minority leader, and that accounts
pitching into the party In power during
his campaign tour.
1T is evident that Hughes intends tt
keep us On the defensive" remarked
Senator Lewis of Illinois. THAT Is
one reason why ! made a counter
attack. / have found that I'm trying law
cases 1t is sometimes good tactics Il
attack the prosecutor when he attacks
your case"
Chamberlain's Two Bills.
Chairman Chamberlain has had tn,
management of two important militar,
bills this year, one the army reorgani
zation bill and the other the militar,
appropriation bill, carrying much legis
lation for the army. If Chamberlain
could have had his way both measure!
might have been vastly superior to tn.
form In which they finally passed, blu
opponents of army legislation hat
strength, and legislation must be {
compromise. Even as ii Is the army
legislation Il called a credit to the Ore