The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-09-23
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Washington, Sept. 23.-[Speciall r.
The gratifying announcement was re-
Gently made that the Panama canal
had done more business In the month
OF July than at any time In Its history.
In some way the American people do
not seem much interested In the canal,
at least In comparison with what they
showed previous to Its construction
and while the work was In progress.
THE JOY OF incompleteness" seems TO
prevail among nations as well as
among children. When a work is I'M
der way 1t attracts a great deal Of at
%tention, but when IL is completed there
Is O loss OF interest.
is II Completely
or course there Is a question as To
whether the canal Is actually complet-
ed, although the formal announcement
of that fact was made quite along time
ago. The canal was completed and
formally opened, and many distinguish
ed people took part I'm the ceremonies.
Several battleships went through the
canal, and many merchant ships made
use of IL.
Then anne q period Of slides, and
they have been more than periodical.
Dredging the channel has been contin-
uous, but SO far the second opening
has not been announced. The second
completion of the canal has not been
scheduled.
Meanwhile we have bought another
canal route. In case, SO our officials
have said, the Panama canal Is a fail
ure we will have another canal at Mica
ragua.
Ollie the Optimist.
There was an Optimist club formed
In Washington not long ago, and a few
days later Senator ollie James appear
ed in an interview on the Maine cleo
ton which showed that he must have
been one OF the founders of the organ
ization. After assembling the figures
Of the election In 1912 and those of
1915 and making comparisons the Ken
lucky senator concluded:
1T would certainly indicate that the
president really won a victory In
Maine"
To a man who feels that way about
the result one can only say that he
ought to live In a pleasant frame of
mind most of the time.
Charlie Commends Champ.
Former Congressman Charlie lands
used to be on the lecture circuit with
Champ Clark, and they were warm
friends. Tarrying In Washington for
a day or two, Lands praised Champs
Maine election comment when the
speaker said, I'VE got licked good and
plenty"
That's just like Champ" remarked
Landis-"always candid, blunt and
outspoken, with no desire TO deceive
himself"
lands represented an Indiana dis
trict In congress some years ago, and
he feels sure that Indiana is going Re
publican. Taking Tom Taggart's pre-
diction OF $4,000 Democratic majority,
Lands says that the $4,000 will be Re-
publican.
No More of "Shinsls BILL"
Congress will lose "Shingle Bill" as
the Democrats called William Z. Hum
phrey of Washington. Humphrey ran
for senator, and Poindexter defeated
him In the primaries. One thing the
primary system does is to have all can
didates run at the same time, and a
man cannot be q candidate for the sen
ate and, losing out, run for his old
place In the house. Humphrey con-
Yl A. $780, g., %hz uanntA md hno
lost his seat In the house.
They called him "Shingle BILL" or
shingles" because he was forever
talking about the removal of the tariff
on shingles and complaining that great
damage had been done to Washington
on that account Strange as 1t may
seem, Poindexter voted for the Under
wood tariff bill, and yet he won. 1t
liz due to the strong progressive tenden-
cies In Washington. Poindexter was
an out and out bull mooser four years
ago. The house therefore has heard
the last Of the depressing effect OF the
tariff removal upon the shingle indus
try OF the state Of Washington.
The Record Keeper.
When the future historian wants to
know the facts of the present time he
will lnd the speeches of Simeon ID.
Fess of Ohio Of great use. Tess makes
1t a point to keep the records straight
on many OF the great questions of the
day. No doubt they are a bit partisan,
for he is q strong Republican, but his
records are official.
Frank Lowdsn's Friends Pleased.
Frank Lowden served quite a long
time In ngres and made many
friends In Washington, who rejoice
over his success In the Illinois prima-
ries. They are hoping that he will be
elected governor Of that state. Low
den retired from congress voluntarily
and for years has been devoting his