The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-04-10
Constitutional Question Inject
ed In Preparedness Bill.
SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE
Governors of the State Have Unques-
National Guard--This ls an Argument
Against Building Volunteer Army Out
of Militia.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

can tell where 1t win end. The great
est Of all constitutional questions, that
which provokes more discussion and
disagreement than any other, IL where
the power OF the general government
and that of states come In conflict.
There cannot be the slightest ques-
ton that the constitution gives the
states full power over the militia, al
though the general government may
provide for them and use them In case
this country Is invaded. But the gov
ernors OF the states have the unques-
toned right TO appoint all militia Off
GERS.
And yet 1t is proposed to make a ma
tional army of the national guard be
u men In congress do not want to
destroy the militia and they know that
a volunteer army cannot be built up
and maintained except at the expense
of the militia.
The Usual Way Out.
1t is probable that the usual way
out will be found. Congress will pass
~ AaN diIh AAC gu
preme court will hold IL constitutional.
That IL called amending the const.tu-
ton by legislative and judicial inter
probation. 1t has been done before and
can be done again. The greenback de
c%isions, the insular decisions and quite
n number Of others show that the court
can usually be depended upon to fol
low the trend Of public opinion and
wishes of the people In constituting the
constitution.
Explained by Adamson.
Congressman Bennett of New York
had just expressed his regret over the
disposition of congress to strike down
the rights OF the states contrary to
the constitution, which brought Adam
son of Georgia u with the following:
II am deeply distressed at the heart
felt lamentation of the modern weep
ing prophet, Mr.. Bennett, that there Is
left no defender OF the constitution
and state rights In congress-. | have
observed that while many of us have
respect for the constitution and state
rights from principle and deem II nee
essary to make constant protestations
there IL no danger of this instrument
or the doctrine being abandoned.
Every once I'm awhile we see that
when he shoe pinches some gentle
man who had forgotten about the con
stitution and state rights begins to
shout vigorously for both because he
Is In a corner, and interests prompt
him to invoke the constitution and
state rights"
An irresistible Appeal.
Senator Ashurst had been hampered
by constant speech making during the
consideration of the Indian appropria-
ton bill, and n morning he started
the proceedings, saying:
II appeal to senators to make just
as few and as short speeches as their
%oratorical temperaments will permit.
/ appeal TO senator's to sit and vote
and exercise their oratorical capacities
on the military bin"
That day he got his bill through.
Governors Get a Chance.
Discussion Of the militia provisions
of the army bin gives the former gov
errors a chance to air their views.
The governors were commanders Of
the militia; TO that extent they have
been military men. They have had In
terviews with the adjutant generals OF
their states and wearing high silk hats
have sat upon horses and reviewed the
state troops. Why the high silk hat
and frock coat should be the uniform
Of the commander In chief OF the mi
litia Is something that has V been
explained. but 1t is firmly fixed here.
But what | was going to say is that
every governor has been a commander
of troops and what he doesn't know
about state soldiers is not worth know
Ing. There are a number OF governors
In the senate and they have been over
flowing with information.
What Happened In CAUCUS.
Dick Morgan Of Oklahoma was talk
ing about rural credits legislation, as
serting that the Democrats did not
seem anxious to do anything.
Don't you know that the Democrats
in caucus the other night decided to
put through a rural credits bill?" asked
Howard Of Georgia.
How could he know what happened
In q Democratic caucusT" asked Plat
Of New York.
"Oh, / mean the press report" re-
piled Howard. "Of course no one
would divulge the secrets Of that eau
GUS"
Praises General Wood.
General Wood" remarked Senator
Hoke Smith Of Georgia, discussing the
army bill, lis one of the strongest and
brainiest men in the army"
He then went on to quote General
Wood in sEDDort Of vocational odnca-