The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-08-12

There are a lot of people In this coun
try who have not yet made up their
minds whether they will vote for VII
son or for Hughes. Those people IRE
going TO decide who will be president
next time.
or course there were a lot of people
who had made up their minds, or,
rather. their minds were already made
up, before the nominations. They In
tended to vote for the candidate OF
their party regardless Of all other con
s~iderations. But the people who don't
know yet what they are going to do
and there are millions of them-will
settle this question when they do make
up their minds. The independent vot-
ers on several occasions have decided
close elections.
West india islands.
Probably the deal will go through
for the acquisition OF the Danish West
India islands at five times more than
they were offered TO Us fifteen years
ago. II is claimed that they are of
great strategical Importance to the
United States I'm guarding the Panama
canal.
That seems rather strange In view
OF the fact that the canal has been
made absolutely neutral and that. al
though this country has built IL. the
country has no more rights In II than
any other nation. Besides, these Is
lands are very near Porto Rico.
That price of $4,000. 900 is the same
that was TO be given to Colombia. In
regard to Colombia 1t vas known that
a large portion OF the $25,0o0.000 was
10 go TO the willing helpers that claim
to be influential In putting such deals
through.
Mexico Overshsdowed.
There was a time when an outbreak
I'm South America, a disturbance In
Cuba, a row between the black rulers
of the Caribbean and any other little
thing like fighting on this continent
would have excited considerable inter
est and held the attention of the
American people.
But the great val In Europe over
shadows everything else. We were
getting much wrought up about Mex
leo early In 1914, but the greater con-
iict across the water obscured every
thing. The chief interest In Mexico
now Is the feeling OF thankfulness
among a vast majority OF the people
that our soldier lads are not dying by
the thousands on Mexican soil.
Cannon's Question.
Ezra Williams was criticising Hughes
speech OF acceptance In the house, and
his fellow member from Illinois, Uncle
Joe Cannon, interrupted to ask:
Would you advise me to advise Mr..
Hughes to withdrawn
mo-" replied williams; you might
nominate some man that would be
harder to beat"
The Democrats applauded the quick
comeback.
Ones and Twos.
During a discussion OF campaign ex-
penditures Congressman Cox OF Indi-
ana asked: 'Why limit items OF cam
paign expenditures to items In excess
of SO? In my country on both sides
1t is the n dollar and two dollar bills
Of which the banks r drained In ev-
cry campaign that does the work"
We'll" replied Rucker of Missouri,
II never lived In Indiana, and perhaps
n "a. UNnt pIArStay,I fhn nnIttiao NJ fhat
state"
Indiana has gained IA reputation. not
altogether agreeable, on the subject of
one and two dollar bills In political
campaigns.
Lewis. the Man Who Answers.
A few years ago Elihu Root was
making one of his great speeches In
the senate. A newspaper man sent n
card to James Hamilton Lewis, but
the Illinois senator sent back word
that he could not come out as he was
going to answer Root.
Last week Lewis again essayed the
answering stunt and replied to the &C
ceptance speech Of Hughes.
One great trouble with Jim Ham Is
that people with not take him seriously
1t was even said that his speech was
Pick wickian; hat he is such a cour-
teous. c~onsiderate man that he would
not say anything really offensive to
his Republican associates.
when my sword is pointed toward
the distinguished senator its point Is
tipped with a rose" Lewis once said to
Senator Gallinger.
Lewis suffers from a reputation early
acquired that he is not the solid man
OF affairs he would now like to appear.
Prefer West Point.
Congressman Ellsworth OF the Sec
ond Minnesota district says that of the
applicants for military service In his
district thirty want to go to West
Point TO three who ask for Annapolis.
They prefer the army to the navy. lie
says that II Is because Minnesota Is an
inland state.