The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-01-22
CHANGES RARE DURING WAR
In Great Crises the Tendency 10 to
Keep the Ruling Party In Power and
Not TO Change Horses In the Middle
of a Stream-Situation Likened TO
That Existing In 1898.



and that is the only way TO intervene
there would be an assurance of war
until after the next election. If IA war
is In progress at the time OF the elec
ton it would benefit the party in pow
er. 1t would probably mean the re
tention OF the party IN control OF the
government for many years To come.
At least that Is the way war generally
affects politics.
There Is a belief that If the country
is kept on the ragged edge of IA break
with some foreign power the effect
will be the same and that the war
spirit will tend toward popularity ~
the party in power.
Situations Reversed.
la 1898 there was a war spirit arou>
ed over Cuba. At that time the Re
publicans were III power. and the lead
ers were trying 10 prevent ii rupture
with Spain. Tie Democrats almost IT,
a man were in favor Of intervention
in Cuba, which, Of course. meant war.
Il lit SlLAdlAOn - IibM " NfAAs / ~
Democrats are opposing intervention
In Mexico. and SOME Republicans nrp
insisting upon IA course which means
war.
There IL a possibility or one differ
ence. There may not be a band of III
surgent Democrats in both houses who
will go over to the opposition and
force the hand of the administration
against its best judgment, as was the
case in 1898, when war was forced
upon Mckinley.
Could Reverse Sentiment.
1t is the opinion OF a great many
congressman that there could be a re
versal OF sentiment on the matter of
preparedness il the same effort was
put forth by the peace societies in an
intelligent manner as has been done
~ the organizations which are urging
such "A large army and navy. Con
gressmen from the middle west say
that the majority of the letters they
receive. If they say anything at all
about preparedness, are against large
expenditures. 1t is the general opinion
that a much different atmosphere could
be created II the right kind or a cam
paign should be made.
Mistakes Of Ants.
The greatest trouble with the oppo-
nents OF preparedness is that they do
not use judicious means I'm presenting
their case to the people. They are not
content to have a well balanced army
and navy, but they insist upon disarm
ament, talk peace at any price and
circulate slips pledging men against Ell
istment In the army and navy. That
sort OF thing arouses intense bitter
ness and hostility among people who
believe the army Is big enough. but
ought not to be reduced, and who be
lieve In an adequate navy. The people
who have supported the army and
navy programs up to the present time
have been quite well satisfied. They
are the kind of people who do not
want much improvement, but they be
come intensely interested when the
ants make campaigns for disarma-
ment.
inferentiaI Criticism.
Quite frequently Vice President Mar
shall criticises the rules and methods
In the senate. Whenever a senator
asks a question which gives a good
opportunity Marshall will take a crack
at what the late Senator White of
California once called these silurian
epigrams, miscalled the rules of the
senate" Such an occasion arose the
other day when Senator Lewis of Hi
nois asked IL one bin was before the
senate and a senator was to speak on
another subject.
I'm accordance with the practice OF
100 years." replied Marshall, ANY sen
ator may address the senate on any
subject he sees fit"
HeIgesen and the Arctic.
Congressman Helgesen OF North Da-
kota has set himself the task OF cor
recting the maps OF the arctic regions
and also TO show that Admirss Peary
did not discover the north polS. He
1AS ohtN'A SiEdb nCdl VI lllOT-
nation on the subject and has already
caused the navy department and other
map makers TO alter maps which were
based upon Peary reports.
One of the Small Things.
1t has often been noted that Minority
Leader Mann can look after small
things as well as large matters of pub
lie interest One day last week he put
through a motion to strike out a period
In "A bill before the house. Afterward
he asked unanimous consent to have it
restored, saying that he wanted to
show that there were only eight or ten
Democrats in the house. And, even so,
the whole matter was as small a. the
period and OF much less importance.