The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-12-13

Should Not Oppose Proposed Laws
Because Of Party Considerations, but
Wants His Side to Offer Something
Bsttsr-NsaI Forty Years IN Job.
by ARTHUR W. DUNN.
Washington, Dee. 13.-lSpecial. IAN
interesting topic OF speculation and dis
cussion Is the control of the next house
Of representatives. Democrats appear
to be more interested In getting con.
troll than the Republicans. If the Re-
publicans gain control 1t will be by
trades with independents, and they
will always be at the mercy OF those
assistant Republicans, who may leave
them In the lurch at any time. 1t Is
expected that the Democrats will or
ganize the next house and name
Champ Clark for speaker. The en-
ployees of the house, who are now
holding down good jobs, are seeking
every method to retain control, as 1t
means good salaries to them during
the next two years.
The Republican Position.
"A 6AVdH VI DtHupil1AAS 0tlt
ing their position In this congress and
making suggestions as to what they
should do In the mex congress. we
ought to be more than simply a party
OF opposition and negation," remarked
Congressman Lenroot OF Wisconsin.
I'VE ought not to oppose measures
simply because they are Democratic.
We ought to offer something affirma-
tive, something of our own that we
think Is better than that offered by the
Democrats"
The trouble is that much legislation
offered by the Democrats In the past
has been attractive to quite a number
of Republicans. They have supported
every measure the Democrats present
ed. Besides, 1t Is mighty difficult for a
minority to push affirmative legisla-
ton. The party In power has control
Of affirmative legislation.
Forty Years on the Job.
The day congress convened there
sat mt the door Of the speakers room
Henry Neal. He Is a colored messen-
ger, but a most valuable man about
the house. For forty years he has
been a messenger at the speakers
door and has known more pubic men
personally than any living man. He
took his present place when Sam Ran
dali was speaker. That was In 1876.
The country was torn up Over the
Hayes-Tilden dispute for the presiden-
cy. 1t was the congress Of the cleo
toral commission. 1t vas a session Of
great excitement.
Neal, known to every man who has
ever come to congress-. served with
Randall, Keifer, Carlisle. Reed, Crisp,
Henderson, Cannon and Clark.
Farm Expressions.
I'VE are going to get through all the
business If we have to begin at sun
up and not take out as John Allen
would say. until late candlelight.'" II
was Speaker Clark who said 1t, and
no usnt farm expressions to convey
his meaning. But more depends on
the senate than the house In the mat.
ter Of rushing legislation, and much
depends upon what President Wilson
wants.
ION the Map"
Were on the map" proudly re.
marked Congressman Raker of Call
cratic president. In a modest way we
will point out that Democracy owes
something to the Golden State"
Raker is not overwhelmed with mod
esty. He has never hesitated In taking
all In sight and reaching for a little
more. No a I'm congress Is quite sc
much In evidence nor quite SO persist
ent MS Raker In making demands foi
himself and his state.
Mark Smiths Story.
Mark Smith of Arizona believed from
tho first that President Wilson would
be elected and based 1t on the desire
for peace. when l reached home
learned something about the feeling Of
the people," said the senator. Zone
Republican, voicing the sentiment oil
lots Of others. told about the departure
of the state troops for the Mexican
border. Il saw those boys marching
away he said, and / saw mother,
WCClulE Ou tu0 nuOuluClS VI SJhH
whom they felt they might never SCI
again. 1 saw husbands taking leave o
wives and small children, possibly t,
leave them widows and orphans.
saw old men bid goodby to sons VIII,
were the support OF their declining
years. And l made mp my mind L
vote for the man who had kept us OIL
OF warg"
Not Trading Material.
A group of Minnesota men were talk
ing about the close vote In their state
and an eastern member remarked tina
302 plurality was not much to bra
about, although Il would have bee
important in case California had vote
the other way.
II think l secured 200 Of that mum
Der" remarked Stevenson Of an U
~Sako A3ufraok