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

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
New York, Aug. ESPECIAL Can
the campaign committees arouse "A
great public interest In this e.ettiOnf
WIN the people get worked az To "A
point where the selection of a presi
dent for the next -four years is more
important than anything else?
At present 1t would appear that no
such public interest has been aroused
1t looks as if 1t might be one of those
campaigns where a lot of people do not
care very much who wins. The idea
seems TO be that both parties have
nominated good men and that ii does
not make much difference who is elect
ed. No doubt the conditions will
change very much when the commit
tees get In good working order and the
country il covered with spellbinders
of the two parties who will tell the
people all about the conditions which
demand a change or the imperative sit.
uation which needs the same hands
AT the helm.
General Apathy" In Command.
Old General Apathy" a familiar fig.
ure In the minds eye, a creation OF
newspaper men who did not have
much to write about, seems TO be In
command just now. This old officer,
the most prominent In many cam.
paigns. has taken charge this year. but
he won't remain In command all the
time. Already there are numerous 9th
err generals" working for a place In
the limelight, n they ought to be
able to drive this hoary old political
man OF straw into the background.
P~srtisanship Lacking.
After all, there is a lack OF partisan.
ship. There is no fierce party conflict
The differences between the parties
are not SO great as TO cause much con.
t%ention.
Even on the tariff the division is one
OF small degree aud terms rather than
OF such diametrieal disagreement as "a
few years ago. The Republicans are
for protection, but they are not for
such high rates as those OF the three
last tariff laws they passed. The
Democrats are for a tariff for revenue.
but for such duties as will prevent In.
jury to American interests. The Re
p%ublicans are no longer for the very
highest protection nor the Democrats
for free trade.
In other matters the differences are
largely on methods, with an apparent
desire TO reach the same ends and bene-
fit the whole country.
The Real Contest.
Then what Is the real contest? you
may ask Well, the Democrats want
10 stay In and the Republicans want
10 get In. And, as a matter OF fact.
many a campaign is for that and little
else. 1t is "a fight for control, a world
old fight and one which has peer one
of the healthy signs In a democratic
government.
Under various names parties have
struggled for control OF governments.
Sometimes there have been great Is
sues involved, and the people by their
votes have settled the important ques-
tons In dispute, but always and ever
AAtAc q bt'h A0nltS iVf NOnllOl ny
the two great political divisions. com
posed OF men who, for one reason or
another, have aligned themselves with
different parties.
Colonel House Consulted.
Although there has beer very little
said about Colonel Il. NJ. House. he Is
a very important parsonage In the
campaign. Colonel House is spending
the summer up In New Hampshire,
but quite often a confidential emissary
OF the Democratic national committee
leaves New York and spends a day
with the Texas colonel and returns
with the views of that silent but pow.
erful individual Colonel House is the
only man who possesses to the fullest
degree the confidence of the president.
VIII Cooperate.
Although the Republican
appointed a committee to look after
the election of senators I'm doubtful
states. 1t Is the intention OF the com
mittee TO work almost entirely with
the national organization. They intend
TO cooperate rather than conduct sep
arate campaigns. After talking with
Chairman Wilcox they concluded bet.
ter results could be obtained In that
way.
One OF the Doubtful States.
West Virginia is one Of the doubtful
states. Ii has been Republican since
1896, save four years ago. when II
went Democratic. This year there will
be a battle for its electoral votes, not
only because both parties want those
votes. but also because a United States
senator is to be elected.