The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-02-12
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Pork Barrel.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Feb. IL Special. IA
few months ago any one asserting
that absolute independence would be
granted the Philippine islands would
have been called loony or at least bit
fanciful 1t did not seem possible that
congress would ever vote for any such
declaration, and it may be that the
house will not accept the senate BILL
although the sentiment has been grow
ing in favor of giving the islands indie
pendence or. what is more TO the point
of relieving the United States Of the
responsibility of the islands.
\ few months ago it did not seem
possible that Il majority of the senate
would consent 10 Philippine indcpend-
ence, but there has been Il wonderful
change in opinion lately. The belief
that the islands are a menace is the
main reason for the change Of senti-
ment.
Becoming a Grab Bag.
Preparedness is beginning to look
like grab bag in congress. The man
who has not introduced "A bill for some
sort of preparedness plant in his dis
trict or state belongs to IA minority
Bills are constantly multiplying for
war establishments. Coast states. lake
states and gulf states want naval acad-
emies, inland states want military
academies, all states want armor
plants, muntion factories, aviation
schools, etc.
Has a Smell of Pork.
| know members Of congress do not
like the word pork in connection with
federal appropriations. but they are
all willing TO get federal money for
their districts. Thus it appears that if
the plan of preparedness can have fed
eral money distributed all over the
country it will have Il strong support
1t reminds me of what one of the
army officers seriously proposed few
years ago when the agitation first be-
gan He said that the only way to Sc.
cure support for an adequate army was
to have regiment in each state and
brigades In some of the large states.
Nonpartsan Opposition.
Congressman Switzer and McCullach
of Ohio were severely criticising the
departments methods in regard to ru-
raj free delivery mail service and were
interrupted by Ashbrook Of the same
state, who said. The members on the
the Democratic side are just as much
opposed to the innovation and are
complaining just as bitterly as the Re
publicans.'
Grateful to Wilson.
Former Congressman Stevens OF
Minnesota, regarded by many as one
of the best equipped men in the house
when he was member, was in Wash
ington not long ago and said something
in praise of President Wilson. Il have
reason to be grateful to him." said
Stevens. The best thing he ever did
was to get me out of congress-
1t is not often that an ex-member
lttlS LudL WHY dboul HIS utItdl
The Broadest Brim.
Cyclone Davis is bound to make the
newspapers print paragraphs about
him. He broke in with "amens' in all
speeches for time. Then he wore a
woolen shirt, then changed to the
boiled shirt" and white collar, all of
which gave him several paragraphs.
Now he has come forth with the broad
and he wears it conspicuously in the
corridors.
Reached Out For Help.
Few senator's have had as many diff
ferences with the president as Varda-
man Of Mississippi but he never fails
to give the president due credit for
handling the English language. In
speaking OF preparedness the Missis-
sippi senator said he found it difficult
TO command language to express his
opinion Of the propaganda for military
preparation.
1.-The poverty of my own vocabulary
causes me to reach out for help. That
my feelings may be vocalized and my
thoughts uttered, ! am going to adopt
the language of another whose genius
for expression is world renowned.
That which / shall quote came from
him as the limpid water from the
spring Of pure Democracy, unclouded
by the mud OF politics and untainted
with the poison Of personal interests.
The arguments he made are unan-
swerable because he uttered the truth,
unalloyed by selfish interest"
Then Vardaman read the message of
the president of December, 1914,
against preparedness. worked I'D by