The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-02-19
QuadreRnial Row Now on In
Republican Ranks.
DELEGATES THE Chief ISSUE
Leaders Would Reduce Number OF
Accredited Representatives at Con-
vention-Say Some Are Ready TO Sell
Out, Especially Those Who Are Not
Instructed How to Vote.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

ern delegates to the Republican ma
tional convention has begun. Southern
Republicans, those who represent dis
tricts In congress and have real Re
publican constituencies, object siren
uously TO the old methods, the fight
among different candidates for south
ern support.
Ever since General Grant was pres
idcnt there has been the same sort of
a q%uadrennial controversy. The pur-
chasable quality of southern delegates
has entered into Republican politics.
Sometimes 1t has resulted In defeating
nominations which would have been
otherwise made. But as long as men
are ready to sell in politics there are
men with money to buy.
What They Want.
1t is the aim of real representative
Republicans of the south to have the
states send uninstructed delegations to
the convention. Then they would have
these southerners get together at the
convention and become n real fighting
force and an effective element In max
ing the nomination. They would 20 a
little further and get some good offices
for southern men, places in the cabi-
net, foreign missions and jobs In Wash
ington. Your southern Republican Is
practical in his politics.
OF course there is n vital objection
to commercializing the delegates OF the
south as has been done on numerous
occasions before and which has caused
bitter controversies in the party.
How They Do II.
Watching members of the house talk
to empty seats, with not more than a
score of members paying any atten-
ton whatever, the query came into
the mind of n spectator the other day.
"In explain" said the man to whom
the inquiry was made. Most of them
are lawyers. They began by address
ing an audience of one, a justice OF the
peace. Then they had to address an
audience of one consisting of "A district
judge. They also spent much time adj
dressing audiences OF t~welve-jurors
in lawsuits. When they began In poll
ties they spoke TO small audiences In
country schoolhouses. They are used
TO small, i~nattentive audiences. But
the great secret is that they like TO
hear themselves talk and to see their
language In print"
Getting Back at Them.
During the discussion of a land bill
In the senate several statements were
made as to the generosity OF the fed
eral government TO the public land
states in giving them large grants for
various purposes. After this had been
going on for some time Senator Fall
of New Mexico read a statement show
ing how the old states had been bene-
fitted by public land sales. He pointed
out hat In 1886 the general govern
ment took from the funds accruing
from the sale of lands and loaned TO
the older states $74,0O0,000, not a dol
lar of which had ever been returned.
The states benefting were Maine, New
Hampshire. Vermont, Massachusetts,
Connecticut. Rhode Island, New York,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana.
Illinois, Ohio, Michigan. Delaware,
Maryland. Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina. Georgia. Alabama,
Louisiana. Mississippi. Tennessee, Ken
lucky, Missouri and Arkansas.
Senator Fall showed that If interest
had been charged on these loans those
states would owe the government
many times the value Of all the public
lands in the other states.
May Oppose Mann.
A rumor has been floating about the
house of representatives saying that
Walter /. Fisher may oppose Jim Mann
for the nomination this year. Fisher
was secretary of the interior during the
last part of the Taft administration
mn active individual. But 1t is doubt
full If any man can beat Jim In his
own district.
Removing a Source of Trouble.
The Philippines are giving us 6
great deal of trouble" remarked
member of the house who knows thai
there will be n sharp debate on the bill
Well, let us cut 'em out" replied
another member. "Of course 1t VIII
leave an ugly wound and 1t will be {
sore spot for awhile, but In the end 4
will be only one of the many scars LEFT
by the Spanish war"
1t is believed that President Wilson
has much the same view In regard Il
the islands. He thinks that once WI
are rid of them they will % occupy
; the minds of the people.
La Toilette More Attentive.
1t has been remarked by those who
give close attention to affairs In the sen
ate that Senator La Toilette has beer
more attentive than at any time IL
several years. They are wondering
whether the Wisconsin leader Is no
getting ready for a big blast OF some
kind.