The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-01-13
Wants Protection Of United
States, but Offers No Return.
POLITICS IN CONFERENCES.
Pan-American Alliance May Be Real.
lied, but 1t Will Never Amount to
Anything, For After the War All Ma.
tions Are Going to Try to Get All the
Money In the World.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. Jan. IL. Especial
Politics was played to the limit IN the
Pan-American scientific conference
held in Washington. A movement was
started 10 unite both Americas I'm Il
common cause to resist the balance Of
the world, supposing the world wanted
to attack America.
That would be "a nice thing for the
southern republics; they would be as
sured OF the protection OF the United
States, but what would they contribute
In return? And how long would they
stand against the money Vaccinations
of any country that wanted to use
money against us?
The United States has been frequent
ly called upon TO quell disturbances. TO
enforce peace at the mouth of n ma
chine gun and to perform other police
services In these countries. They are
not the kind of countries for allies.
They would throw us over at the first
opportunity.
Germ of the Idea.
Reading the various arguments urg-
ing such an alliance my eye happened
TO catch the germ OF the idea. One of
the advocates. telling what a good
thing Ii would be TO have one grand
family OF American republics solidly
united and standing firmly together.
said that rs a first move the United
States should adopt the Colombian
treaty providing for the payment OF
$25.000,000 to that country because our
country wanted TO benefit Colombia by
building a canal through what was
once her territory.
From many outcroppings II appears
that large portions OF that S25.000.O00
have been promised TO promoters OF
the treaty.
San Francisco inspected"
If the real economists In congress
should tabulate the expense accounts
OF the various government travellers
during the year 1915 they would find
that oil the big fellows who were sent
out had TO go by way of San Francisco,
particularly during the period the TX
position vas open. Reports or travel
ing expenses have been sent TO con-
gress by various departments, but 1t is
doubtful whether they will receive
much attention. At all events, con,
gress has never tried to stop the great
outlay In this form OF expense.
A Real Progressive Move.
Congressman Emerson of Cleveland.
o., a new man In congress. has pro
posed a real Progressive proposition by
introducing n resolution to amend the
constitution by having the president
elected 10y direct vote of the people.
And why not? Ii 1t Is n good thing TO
have primaries of all kinds and the
election of senators by direct vote, why
not have the president elected by d.
rect voter
If this should be done interest would
not center so much upon the pivotal
states. There would be efforts to get
votes everywhere, and every vote
would count in a close election.
But vii Never BE Done.
But we win never see the president
elected by Il direct vote. If anything
like that should be done Ii would re-
quire n close federal scrutiny OF all
elections. AS. for instance. the first
bulletin on the night OF election Is one
from Mississippi saying the state has
gone 10000 for the Democratic candi-
date. Instead OF that ~perfunctory an
nouneement federal authorities would
scrutinize all the returns. Lump IA
j~orities. such as are generally turned
In from southern states. would not be
allowed without investigation.
The selection of electors who vote
for president and vice president Is one
remaining right of the states which
they win not surrender.
TRAINED Diplomats"
Again the cry has gone forth for
trained diplomats" meaning men who
have had long experience in diploma
CIV. OF course that Is impossible I'M
der our form Of government. Diploma
CIV is a secondary consideration with
us. The average diplomat is simply a
medium of communication between the
foreign offices and our state depart
ment. In these days of cables no
diplomat is allowed to take matters
into his own hands: hence 1t makes
lirtle difference whether he Is trained.
"They Believe It."
DO you know. they really believe
1t. some of them?"
The remark was made by Congress
man Mondell OF Wyoming. who is OPP
posing preparedness. and be was
speaking OF the advocates of large ex-
p%enditures to prevent the danger OF
invasion of the United States. and he
added:
Sometimes when | I'M talking with
hose fellows who see hordcs OF for
elgners ~overrunning our country ]
took anxiously for the dropping OF an
eyelia or Il curl In the corner Of the