The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-12-29
Neither Parry Blaming tho
Other For Conditions,
Paper Inquiry Shows That Proper Di-
vision Might Reduce Prices-Fo God,
Rightly Handled, Would Also Come
Down In Price, It Is Commended.
Capital viii Go Dry.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

There Is no longer any attempt to play
politics with the high cost Of living
No one goes so far now as to say that
the high cost of living was caused by
the protection policies of the Republic
ans or the low tariff policies of the
Democrats. Both parties have tried
to make their opponents responsible
for the high cost of living, In the cam
paigns of 1910 and 1912 the Democrats
asserted with the utmost poSitiveness
that the party then in power and Its
tariff policies caused the high cost OF
living. In 1916 the Republicans talked
about the increased cost OF living, and
many asserted that the party in power
had done nothing to relieve the situa-
ton and that their legislation had been
followed by constantly increased cost
OF living. But no one takes any stock
In the political side of the subject.
Matter of Distribution.
In the paper hearing before the fed
eral trade commission it was shown
that the apparent shortage might be
met by proper distribution. So it may
be found with food. Perhaps 1t will
be found that the food supply is not
properly distributed; also that there Is
a determination OF handlers of food to
make undue profits. 1t may turn out
that those who are trying TO make so
much money out of present conditions
will overreach themselves. Nothing
tends to government control and state
Socialism to quite such an extent as
famine on one side and ~cornering of
the necessaries of life on the other
by those having temporary control
Washington Going Dry.
1t Is only a question OF time until
Washington will be dry as other prohi-
bition territory. The determination of
the prohibitionists to make the nation.
al capital dry Is not to be stopped, al
though 1t may be postponed for a time.
The constantly increasing number OF
dry states and dry communities
throughout the country makes more
members vote dry whenever the propo
sition Is presented.
1t Is doubtful whether Washington
will be dry all at %once-that Is, that
drastic legislation preventing the per
sonal possession Of liquor win pass,
but at oil events the saloons will have
TO go.
Repeal CLEO Taxi
Now comes Congressman Aswell OF
Louisiana and offers a bill to repeal or
reduce the tax on oleomargarine In
order to reduce the cost Of living.
What! say the farmers. Are you going
to injure a most important farm in
dustry? The oleO tax will stay.
They Don't Mix.
There are elements in the Demo
cratic party that do not mix or har
monize. The clash between Fitzgerald
of New York and Bob Henry OF Texas
shows that there Is just as much diff
ference among Democrats as among
Republicans. The only reason that IL
does not figure in the Democratic par
ty Is because President Wilson forces
those elements into agreement for vot-
ing purposes.
Make Bryan the Editor.
Senator Owen OF Oklahoma has in
troduced a bill to establish a govern
ment owned and conducted paper so
that governmental ideas may be accu-
rately set forth and to such an extent
as to give the people a view OF what
the government Is doing. The sug-
gestion originally came from William
j. Bryan, and quite a number of news
paper men are giving it a further boost
and suggesting that Bryan be made
the editor.
Monuments For Great Men.
A bill passed tire senate one day for
Maury for the reason that he was
practically the originator of the pres
ent weather bureau. 1t would not
have passed but for the personal APP
peal of Senator Martin OF Virginia.
Senators cannot resist Martins mp
peals for Virginians. But Senator
Smoot said that there were sixty-seven
bills for monuments which would cost
many millions. lie thought this was
no time To take money out OF the treas
ury for monuments.
Clapp's Question.
During the discussion of a bill which
would mean taking more money out of
the treasury for officers who served In
the civil war Senator Clapp of Mime
sofa made this inquiry:
Does the senator approve OF the act
Of the last session placing $780, 900
upon the backs of the people for the
army and navy In times OF profound
peace?"
Bryan Of Florida, who was inter
rogated, did not approve it. In fact,
there are quite a number OF men In
congress who are beginning to wonder
whether the country is going to get
the worth of all that money, especially
as the expenditure must continue for !
oil time to come.