The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-09-07

tGat1s
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. Sept. 7.-[Special. lin
tense interest has been taken in the
railroad situation In Washington bp
cause OF the general feeling that The
political situation Is tied UP closely
with the legislation and the accom-
plishments of the administration in the
great crisis. Besides, 1T was In Wash.
ington that President Wilson had the
two interests confer for a long time In
his effort TO bring about an adjust
ment of the difficulties.
Washington has watched the eight
hour fight at other times. Washington
Is an eight hour city just as IL every
other place when under government
control. The clerks In the departments
work eight hours, as do the employees
In all other government works. The
eight hour principle, however, does not
apply to other walks of life, although
the eight hour day Is the rule In this
government.
A Fight of Years.
There has been a fight for years be
fore congress waged by the labor or
CARNATIONS In an effort to secure an
eight hour day on all materials which
go into government purchases. The
fight has been TO compel only the prod
ucts of the eight hour day to be used
In ships. munitions. clothing and all
other supplies for the government.
The labor organizations have an idea
that If the government should ever
take this step that the eight hour day
would soon be adopted In most of the
factories In the country.
A Busy Senator.
No one In Washington was quite so
busy as James Hamilton Lewis when
the strike situation was up to CON
gress. He was campaigning In Maine,
but he returned to Washington and
at once began comforting and planning
In an effort to secure a settlement Of
the difficulties.
Years ago Senator Lewis was a
working man along the wharves OF
Dt0itAG anu nus always uNu u SAil
pathy for those who toll, but he also
has a distinct regard for property
rights, and his efforts In the direction
of settling the strike was to secure
compromise legislation which both
sides might accept.
Mann Showed Anger.
Minority Leader Mann was not all
pleased when President Wilson turned
over the strike situation on congress.
and his face plainly showed his feel
ings the day the president delivered
his message. Mann did not look so
OF whom realized the gravity of the sit
u%ation, but he looked as If he felt like
saying: what are you bringing this
here for? As long as you started It
why don't you handle 1t yourself?"
Quite Al number OF men knew he felt
that way.
Senators Were Puzzled.
The wine schedule in the tariff bill
was never understood by more than a
dozen senator's, although 1t was dis
cussed at some length. Senator Lane
Of Oregon voiced the impression OF a
number OF senator's when he said that
from all the discussion of senators
from wine producing states he conclud-
ed that a lot OF water was added to
tone down the foxy flavor of the wine,
then sugar was added TO make 1t sweet
and alcohol to make Ii stronger. ito
make the drunk come" he put it.
But 1t was found that wine is q long
way from pure grape juice when it
finally Is placed on the market.
Why Not Go Ahead?
Senator Thomas OF Colorado was one
of the northern Democrats who could
not stand for the child labor bill.
When 1t was suggested to him that
the strike legislation might we'll in
clude a provision that only goods made
by eight hour labor should be trans
ported by interstate carriers he re
marked:
why not? Why stop at anything
now? do not see why anybody who
swallowed the child labor bill should
gag at anything else that could come
under interstate commerce"
Rejoicing With Cuiberson.
Many Texas men and nearly all his
colleagues r~ejoiced with Senator Gull
berson when he was re%nominated for
six years. On account of i'll health
Cuiberson is feeble, but as long as he
wanted to be continued In the senate
his friends were glad to have his wish
gratifed,
Reeds Vocabulary.
The man with a lot of words can
often make a hit In congress. Sen
ator Reed OF Missouri has a wonderful
vocabulary and a distinct line of Ian
guage peculiarly his own He is not
at his best unless he is a critic. As
an advocate he is hampered because
hts vnfao hau a fopa ne nnpdnmpotinp