The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-12-04
BY ARTHUR W. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Dec. Al Special. THE
opening day of a session In December
Is always more interesting than a call
ed session following another quickly IN
the spring. Although the regular ses-
sion OF congress lasted until September,
there has been IA lot Of history made
since that time, and the members or
both houses came together just AS III
there had been a long vacation since
they were here.
After a presidential election the SEN
ators and representatives nave much to
talk about, and there Is more this
year, as the election was full of sur
prises.
The first day-in fact, for IA few days
following the opening-there is nothing
much said among members of congress
except to tell how 1t all happened.
These are days OF explanations. How
ever, there are not so many members
among the defeated as In former years.
Although Il was an election OF upsets,
many congressmen have been reelected.
Getting to Business Quickly.
The most important development of
the session is the determination to get
down to business without delay and
take up the pending questions and push
them along as rapidly as possible.
There will be few early adjournments
and not many days wasted, save as
time Is wasted In talk.
The formalities make il necessary to
lose the first day. The senate will adj
journ promptly out of respect for the
late Senator Clarke of Arkansas. In
fact, neither house can do anything un-
til the message from the president Is
received.
Democrats Confident.
It sounds like the late campaign to
talk about Democratic confidence, but
this refers to the organization of the
next house. The dominant party be-
lieves that the independents win join
them In effecting the control and or
~ganization of the next house. In the
first place, there is quite a progressive
tendency among these independents.
and the Democratic party Is called
progressive-almost as progressive as
the party which bore the name for a few
years. Then the independents are like
ly to receive favors, both at the hands
OF the administration and I'm house pat
ronage So there may be reason for
Democratic confidence.
Champ Clark Chsered.
The members OF the house of repre-.
sentatives certainly like Champ Clark
The cheers which he received from his
colleagues were hearty and earnest
Not In years has there been n speaker
80 personally popular as Champ. I'm
Gle Joe Cannon had friends, but as, he
was the leader of his party as well as
speaker he had partisan opponents who
never showed him much friendship
Under the new methods In the house
the speaker has nothing TO do but K
be a nonpartisan presiding officer, and
Champ has been that for six years
making friends all the time.
VIII Miss Roberts.
Republicans are regretting the loss
OF Ernest w. Roberts of Massachu
sets. He had been so long a member
that he seemed to be a fixture. HI
was one Of the strong men on the Re
publican side. AS Il member of thu
naval committee he has had much t.
do i'm shaping naval legislation.
Republicans Indifferent.
Quite a number OF Republicans ar
indifferent as to whether they shoul,
organize the next house Of representa-
tives unless the final returns and con
tests in the courts give them a clea
majority. Congressman Rodenberg o
Illinois voices the sentiment of quit
q number when he says that as loni
as the Democrats have the othe
branches OF the government they Nigh
as well have the house and take ful
responsibility.
Other Republicans do not like til
idea Of taking control by making agree
ments with the several independents
They prefer that such deals should b
made by the party in power.
South Rejoicing.
Southern men are in a jovial fran
of mind. They not only have carrie
the presidential election, but cotton
bringing such prices as to seattle
wealth throughout that region, and tn
people at home are as happy as tn
politicians In Washington. Happ
homes make the representatives Of tn
people happy. There is no such d.
mand for political places as there
when times are hard. Great is cotto
when It's king.
New Legislation.
Judging from the number Of bills il
troduced, the senators and represenet,
tives have been doing something bt
sides campaigning since congress al