The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-12-08
NATION MAY SOON
BUY RAILROADS
N0wIands Hearing Shows Pos
siblllty Of Ownership.
SPIRIT OF UNREST MANIFEST

SPIRIT OF UNREST MANIFEST
Despite Approval Of Wilson Administra-
ton, People Want Something Done,
Particularly Against Those Response
BILE For High Food Prices-The ~ Did
II" Club a FIourishing Organization.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Dec. ESPECIAL. 1t Is
only a short step to government own
ership Of railroads and other public
utilities, according to the facts and
discussions In the Newlands hearing.
So les IL the new system that people
do not realize that 1t may come sud
denly In the rush OF putting into prac-
tice more progressive theories.
Back In 1907, when William j. Bryan
espoused the aus of government own
ership, almost the entire Democratic
party ''shushed' at him, aud he was
induced to stay his hand, az he was
to be the candidate Of hat party In
1908. Yet under the administration
which Bryan created It is quite possl-
Bile that government ownership may be
accomplished.
People Want. Something.
Although the people In the fall cleo
ton voted against any change In the
national administration they still want
something. There are a great deal OF
dissatisfaction and unrest. The high
cost OF living and the demand of la
Dor for a more equal division of profits
and the demand of railroads for more
caused a disturbance. The people OF
the United States are also dissatisfied
because they, living In a land of peace
and plenty. are made to suffer for a
war In which they have no interest
and which they consider useless.
Do Not Grasp the Point.
Ten wise statesmen, five members
from each house, constituting the New
lands commission, are spending hours
and hours In the discussion of the rail.
road problem, while the whole country
Is aroused over the high prices. These
statesmen do not seem TO grasp the
point that the cost of rail t%ransporta
ton IL one of the smallest factors I'm
this cost of living; that rail transporta
tion Is the smallest item that enters
into the price of commodities; that rail
transportation is SO quick and cheap
that large quantities OF food are sent
from place 10 place TO secure the high
prices some dealers ictitiously PUT
upon the nccessaries of life. IT costs
much more to harl supplies to the rail
roads and haul them from railroad
terminals to the consumers than It does
to haul them on the rails.
Men Voted With tho Women.
Minority Leader Mann does not think
that the women voters alone In the
west carried those states for Wilson,
but that the men voted with them on
the same issues and with the same
feelings as the women. He says that
peace and che kept us out OF war;
were just as effective with the men as
with the M People were voting
for what seemed to be their personal
interests" said Mann, "and they had
no regard for anything else In the
campaign"
BY the way, Mann had heaps of
votes, something like 10000 majority,
which might be called tremendous in
= city district
Temperance In the Service.
Army and navy officers who may be
unfortunate or make mistakes and get
tangled up with whisky can hope for
no clemency when their cases reach
their secretaries. Secretary Daniels
shows no leniency with an officer who
has been drinking and caught at It.
Secretary Baker is just as strict when
liquor figures in court martial cases.
Both secretaries have been most an
sistent upon promoting temperance In
the services.
Will Count II . Victory.
The workers for woman suffrage are
insisting upon a vote on their consti
tutional amendment, although the,
must be perfectly aware that 1t Ii
doomed to defeat II a vote is taken
But they will count 1t a victory ever
In that event. II the various woman
organizations here In Washington dt
not secure a vote 1t win look as II
they lacked influence, and for that rea
son they win press for q vote at al
N hnanrda