The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-03-13
PUBLIC OPINION
TO PREVENT WAR
Conflicts Always the Result of
Political Differences.
ENTIRE NATION is DIVIDED.
No One Should De Horrifed Because
One Party or the Other Uses the Eu-
ropean Struggle to Foster It's Own
Interests - All Want Firm Dealing
With Both England and Germany.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, March 11.-tSpeciaII-
Mixed situations IN dealing with the
problems Of the war in Europe have
grown out of the diverse opinions Of
American people and the desire Of Ger
tain persons to make political capital
out Of war conditions.
No one need to shudder or become
Mortified Mt the idea Of using war for
political purposes.
1t has been done ever since the dawn
Of our history.
Our greatest and most patriotic war,
the one over which the PEOPLE Of both
sides glow with patriotic pride and
speak Of I'm quiyery voices when they
are fully wrought up, was a war of
politicians by politicians for political
purposes. The war Of 1872 was political,
fostered by the eminent patriot Henry
Clay for the purpose of making him
speaker and giving him control of his
party. The Mexican war was political
and for the purpose of gaining more
territory. The Spanish wan was polit-
zeal and urged by the Republicans
when Cleveland was president and by
the Democrats when Mckinley was
president
Not OF One Mind.
The people Of This country are not of
one mind. They are for and against
thu ulHtag urH Tnp aud unufRagF ffa CON
tral powers. They are demanding the
enforcement of all American rights.
but they do not want the country
plunged into war. They want firm deal
ing with Germany on the submarine
question. but they do not want war
with Germany. They want England
10 stop interfering with our commerce.
but they do not want war with Eng
land.
Ii can thus be seen that the rather
complicated situation I'm congress Is but
a reflex Of the conditions throughout
the country.
Are They Cowardly7
There is nothing SO cowardly as the
average politician except the average
business man." remarked Senator
Thomas OF Colorado. The average con
gresham, assuming he is a politician.
does not want to go contrary 10 the
wishes Of his people or any considera-
BILE number of them. He attempts
often TO sidestep. straddle. carry water
on both shoulders or I'm some way keep
In with all influential factions I'm his
district and at the same time do the
best he can for the country. Self
preservation is his first law. Maybe Ii
is cowardly, but IL he Is defeated In
the next election because he II brave
there will be mighty few laurels laid
on his political grave.
Power of the President.
In connection with this alleged cow
ardice let ii be understood where the
power of the president Is exerted and
why IL Is that many men have to fol
low him. If n man refuses to follow
the president there arises in his dis
trict a candidate against him, who
uses the slogan that the sitting mem
Der does not uphold the hands of the
president, the head OF the party" At
once he has all the oflceholders in the
district with him and against the mem
Der. even II those officeholders have
been appointed on the recommendation
of the congressman. In many In
stances the man who fails to stand by
the president is defeated. Many mem
bers sacrifice their convictions and vote
with the president on this account.
Rapping Efficiency Experts.
During the discussion of the appro-
priation Of $4,000 for efficiency ex-
perts in the government reference was
made TO the Taft efficiency commission
Minority Leader Mann asserted that
the most important suggestion made
by that commission was the use of SO
called window envelopes. That was
the most important thing ii ever did.
said Mann, and they could not get
anybody to adopt them because 1t vas
discovered that they were more expen-
siye than the other kind"
He Remembered Baltimore.
A measure was under consideration
relating to the cost and expenses of
administering an office of the govern
ment in Baltimore, and Stafford OF
Wisconsin made Il statement that might
be construed as a criticism.
Why do you make this assault on
Baltimore now" interrupted Sloan OF
Nebraska. "at this particular time, aft.
er ii has lost every plank In its plat
form?"
What Tillman Has Learned.
During my twenty-one years OF
service" remarked Senator Tillman, In
a rather scolding I'M to the sen
ate. Il AVE learned a good many things
about the senate and its method of
doing business. When it wants to do
a thing it can do business as rapidly as
any legislative body in the world, but