The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-05-16
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Washington, May 1G-ISpeciaLl-
Sharp contests between the senate and
house may make it necessary for Pres
ident Wilson to take "A more active
hand in the legislative program than
he at first intended. There has been
quite a strong disposition on the part
of different members to become more
independent than heretofore. That Ii
one of the reasons for the differences
between the senate and house.
Curiously enough, the president is
with the senate on some of the bills In
dispute and with the house on others.
IL all goes To show hat men have diff
ferent views on the great public ques-
tons of the day.
A Political Prediction.
A man who has been attending po-
litical conventions for a great many
years predicted the other day that the
Republican situation will be ironed SO
smoothly by the time the national con
vention meets that what is now con
sidered serious will be merely like the
morning mist which passes away with
the appearance of the sun.
While that sounds nice, the predic-
ton IL made that IL Ia going to be n
of the most interesting conventions
that have been held by the Republican
party, barring the last. of course,
which was an exception to all rules.
But In n way 1t will be more interest
ing than the last, for four years ago
the nomination of Taft and the bolt OF
Roosevelt were apparent a long time
before the convention met. In the pres
ent situation 1t is mighty hard to pre-
diet who viii be the nominee and wheth-
er Roosevelt will head a third ticket or
not. If not named by the Republicans.
Administration Not Satisfied.
The administration was not satisfied
with the vote of the house against the
volunteer army and the provision In
the army bin authorizing the president
to increase the regular army to 250,oo0
men in time of peace. The vote came
at a time when the war department
felt the necessity Of a larger force.
The senate bill was more In accord
with what Secretary Garrison wanted,
and 1t was because the president would
not actively support him that he left
the cabinet. However, the president
would have peer glad to see the
Chamberlain bin passed rather than
the Hay bill, although he was anxious
to secure almost any kind of prepared
ness legislation at an early date.
Would Like to Go Home.
There are n number of senators who
would like to get into their senatorial
campaigns much sooner than they will
be allowed TO. And 1t happens that
those senators who want to get away
belong to the majority party. There Is
no obligation upon the part of the Re
publicans to maintain a quorum and
transact the business. and those who
desire to go home viii no doubt do SO.
As to the southern senator's, 1t is not
of any particular moment, as their
campaigns win be made and over as
oon as the primaries are held. But
with at least a dozen senators from the
northern states there must be a con
slant fight until the polls close in No
vember, for the Republicans are max
ing every effort to regain the senate.
Some of these senators may be able to
get away, but others feel obligated to
stay and attend to business.
Spoke of Roosevelt.
During the consideration of the Phil
ippine bill. in the house Congressman
O'Shaughnessy of Rhode Island made
reference to what a number of presi-
dents had done In regard to the Phil.
ippines and said:
Now we have the redoubtable Roose-
welt, OF whom we read In the public
prints once In awhile. A few years
ago this virile American-and nobody
challenges or questions Els American.
ism, although some of us believe that
he Is not averse to a little of the
llmelight and some of the things that
go with tia few years ago ex-Presi
dent Roosevelt said
Then he quoted the Roosevelt view
of the American obligation to take
care of the Philippines until capable
Of self government.
Measures For Farmers.
Whether they will work out In a sat
isfactory or not remains to b,
determined by the future, but both thu
good roads bill and the rural credit
bill are designed to be Of great benefi
to the farmers Of the country. Their
is a great deal of doubt In the mind
of many men who voted for thes
measures as to their pr%acticability, blu
for a time they stand to the credit o
the present congress.
Knew How II Was.
During a debate In the house one da
Secretary McAdoo's name was mer
toned and the remark added that h
was a son-in-law.
Il understand that he is the son-ir
law" remarked Nick Longworth. wit
extreme emphasis on the word 'the,
and then added, IL know just how di.
iicult a position Mr.. McAdoo holds"