The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-04-15
Various Forces Want LogisIa-
ton Shaped TO Aid Them.
POLITICS ALSO PLAYS A PART
National Guard officers Fighting For
Their Organization and Try to Make
II an Army of the United States.
Little Popularity In Supporting Reg
uIar Army and Opposing Militia.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.


Washington, April 14.-[Special. i
Self interest cannot be kept out of any
kind OF national legislation. That Is
true even I'm time OF great national
stress, for there are persons who are
trying to help themselves while help
Ing the government.
Any one watching the course of the
military legislation designed to put the
country In a state of preparedness
which would be necessary for an
emergency can see running through
the debates and proposed amendments
"A great deal of self interest.
The national guard officers have been
In Washington fighting for their organ
ization and trying to build It up, make
II more important-in short. make it
an army Of the United States, with
the exception that the officers are not
to be chosen by the national govern
ment, but by the state government.
Presidential Politics.
Then there were presidential politics
injected into the proceedings. Presi-
Dental candidates were looking to see
where they could secure an advantage.
There were indications that certain
aspirants were seeking the favor of
the national guard, which IL such a
powerful political factor in many
states. At all events that Is the way
IL appeared 10 one who looked on from
an impartial viewpoint. There Is not
much popularity I'm supporting the reg
ulnr army and opposing the militia.
The real candidates were pretty apt to
cater to the militia organizations. and
the speeches I'm the senate indicated as
much.
Uncle Joe and Canals.
During the consideration of the river
and harbor bill the old proposition for
an inland waterway along the Atlantic
coast was put forward, as usual. This
aroused Uncle Joe Cannon. lie told
about the Hennepin canal, which one
Of his dear friends fought for and final
~ secured at n cost of $30,OO0.000. And
IL has not carried thirty tons Of traffic
n year. Uncle Joe said that he was
In favor of waterway improvements
where practicable, but he was opposed
built Mt great expense, which he said
were only useful by having the tow
path made into n railroad.
When Nelson Was In Command.
Senator Nelson was governor of Min
nesota many years ago. He told the
senate about inspecting the state mill
tia when he held that office.
They furnished me an old plug of d
horse from n livery stable" he said.
II think the boys set IL up on me. But
| discovered what they had done be-
fore the ceremonies began. | put spurs
into that old horse, and he got very ex-
cited. One OF my staff became much
alarmed for fear the horse would kill
me, but | avoided the catastrophe and
succeeded in inspecting the guard In "A
proper manner IN that old plug of a
horse, but the whole thing was like a
circus to me-"
Land In the West.
During a debate on a land question
In the senate the western men made
their usual complaint about the vast
areas which had been withdrawn and
were not open To settlement or devel-
opment. Senator Gallinger interrupted
Mark Smith OF Arizona TO remark:
when | voted to admit Arizona as a
state | fully understood there might be
a scarcity of water in that state, but |
never expected there would be a scar
city of land"
Not Looked Upon F~avorably.
The boast has been made that 5000
government clerks have been organized
into a union since the attempt was
made to increase the hours of work
In the departments. The organization
Is not looked upon with favor among
officials nor among the congressman
who stood by the clerks I'm their recent
fight. The opinion Is expressed that
such an organization should have no
place In the government service.
Hughes and West Virginia.
ihsit ~ oHt pLuee NntIt tut sulItlie
court and its decisions will be drag
ged into politics If Hughes is nom
mated. West Virginia, with a $12,-
100000 judgment against her in the
contest with Virginia, which was
rendered by;Justice Hughes I'm an opin-
ion by the court, would certainly make
that an issue. Democrats OF that state
say they would like nothing better than
the nomination of Hughes, as 1t would
give them a campaign issue that could
be used effectively. They know that
there Is nothing hat reaches the vot-
err quite SO quickly as something touch
Ing his pocketbook.
They Are Not So Shy.
When Congressman Gardner of Mas
sachusetts anne out for Roosevelt he
found that the Republicans around him
were somewhat shy.
N1,A na go - "a