The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-03-16
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.


President Wilson has often demonstrate
ed his control of congress, and several
times it has peer forced to act against
what was the desire OF the majority.
One of the first notable instances was
in regard to Panama canal tolls. Since
that time quite a number of measures
which a majority did not actually APP
prove have been passed because they
were wanted by the president. And
now comes the remarkable illustration
of the votes on resolutions regarding
travelling on armed merchantmen dur
ing the war. It Is not my assertion,
but that of many others on the floor of
the house and In public declarations. to
the effect that at least two-thirds of the
members of both houses were In favor
of warning Americans off armed mer-
chantmen, but the resolutions were ia
bled In both houses by overwhelming
majorities.
Should Make Roosevelt Envious.
The manner in which President VII
son dominates congress should make
Colonel Roosevelt envious. And II IL
also interesting to note that although
Colonel Bryan appeared in Washington
about the time the votes were to be
taken his influence. seemed to be nil,
for those members who have been
known as Bryan men for long years
were found among the earnest support
ers of the president.
The domination of the congress by
the executive again illustrates the fact
that the people believe In IA president
rather than IN the member of congress
they have chosen to represent them.
And that Is rather curious when you
come to consider 1t carefully.
Government Antialcohol.
An item of health news issued by
the public health service takes a de
cided and emphatic stand against alco
hol. 1t brands strong drink as the
most efficient ally of pneumonia. Al
cOhol is the handmaiden of the disease
which produces 10 per cent of deaths
in the United States. Indulgence In
alcoholic liquors lowers individual VI
tally" and more to the same effect.
So far as | recall, this Is the first
government attack upon the liquor
traffic other than that which has &C.
Cured In restrictive legislation. This
Is a direct official announcement.
Trying TO Curb NewIands.
During the consideration of the Wa
ter power bill Senator Newlands In
I,Iw,I HsrncDlf L. Al. InvNru ~ faIG
ing to the empty spaces In the senate
Finally Senator Shields of Tennessee
invoked a paragraph In Jefferson's
Manual. which states:
mo one is to speak impertinently or
beside the question superfluously or
~tediously."
Senator Clarke, in the chair, would
Newlands good naturedly remarked
that he believed in the rule.
MARITIME on His Record.
Senator MARITIME of New Jersey plain
ly that he Is a candidate for
reelection next year and will make the
race on his record. And 1t is not a bad
record. for MARITIME has followed his
conscience In his votes and acts.
II have supported the president al
all times when | thought he was right
and opposed him when ! thought he
was wrong" declares MARITIME. 1t Will
be interesting to note whether this
kind of support will gain for MARITIME
the support of the president In the
New Jersey primaries. 1t sometimes
happens that presidents do not appre-
ciate this kind of support.
In the Matter of Dodsing.
Gardner, the ~belligerent congressman
from Massachusetts. believed that
many members of the house were try
ing to dodge a vote on the submarine
armed ship issue.
The house OF representatives" he
asserted, "for several days has been
engaged In one of those exasperating
performances which make the aver
age man ia the street itch to strange
every one Of us"
When a member OF the house talks
like that there is little wonder that
people express more confidence In the
chief executive than they do in their
own members.
A "F aker Defined.
Men say remarked Minority Lead
err Mann in the house. lin denunciation
of those with whom they do not agree.
that certain propositions are fake
propositions. My idea Of a fake prop
osition usually is one that l do not
agree with"
Called on the Southern Saints.
Hefiin of Alabama In swinging to the
support of the president called on all
the saints of the south. ancient and
modern He went through the list
state by state and. so far as l know.
omitted no one from Washington of
Virginia to John Sharp Williams of
Mississippi. OF course he was greeted
with thunders of applause.
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