The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-04-20
CANNOT EXPRESS OPINION.
Position on the Supreme Court Bench
Prevents Him From Favoring or Op-
posing National Preparedness-Like-
wise He Cannot Say That He Would
Accept the Republican Nomination.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

that they must know further where
the justice stands upon the important
question of preparedness.
These are utterly impossible condi-
lions. Justice Hughes cannot say that
he Will accept the nomination; he AN
not say where he stands upon any of
the great questions before the country.
III the people OF the country take
Justice Hughes-and there are many
Republicans who have asserted their
determination to take him-they will
accept him upon what he has done
heretofore and with confidence In him
as n man who viii do what is best for
the country II he becomes president.
Smoking Out" Process.
There has been heard talk about
smoking out Justice Hughes. He
happens to he in a position where he
can't be smoked out. because he does
not have 10 answer any more questions
o make any further declarations.
Not being a candidate for the nomi-
nation, he does not have TO declare
himself" az the Roosevelt men put IL.
As a supreme court Justice he can
stand upon his dignity and refuse 10
discuss these subjects OF armament and
war. which IL wholly in the province
OF the Legislators and the executive de
partment. Friends OF the Justice are
wondering just what move can be
made I'm the smoking out process
that will be effective.
Chamberlain In Earnest.
Senator Chamberlain, chairman OF
the military committee, is much I'm
earnest about national defense. He
was telling the senate one day that
one or the nations was now demanding
States for Europe unless its manifest
is viscd by its agents.
do you think the failure OF the
United States TO demand that England
respect our rights is because OF our
lack of preparationT" asked Nardaman.
Certainly" replied Chamberlain.
did not the president go out on a
western tour and say that preparation
was necessary? What did he mean
by thatf"
Vardaman did not answer, and the
Inference Of the chairman Of the mill
tary committee was that we need more
force to assert our rights against Great
Britain.
Maxine Hlrself u~nnonular
Congressman Frear Of Wisconsin has
just performed his annual. self impos-
ed task of making himself unpopular
I'm the house. He has fought the river
and harbor bill from end To end and
~antagonized about four-hfths Of the
members who had projects in the bin.
Voted For Pensions.
There was n little party scrap in the
senate n day when Senator Smoot
moved that the pension bills be consid-
cred. Southern Democratic senators
opposed the motion, but the Republic
ans voted for 1t and with them enough
Democratic senators from northern
states to carry the motion. The north
ern Democratic senators will not op-
pose pension legislation.
Let the Court DO II.
The constitutional lawyers did not
fight and spar and argue over the con-
stitutional questions I'm the army bill
ms long rs was expected. The disposi-
ton vas to let the court fight out and
decide those questions. Senator Borah
proved conclusively that certain pro
visions of the bill were unconstitution-
al. Other senate lawyers said that GER
tain provisions were probably uncon-
stitutional. But by general consent 1t
seemed hat these constructionists of
The constitution We're willing that the
court should determine the provisions
Of the bill If they eve reached the
stage of court proceedings
Tariff Talk.
The tariff talk in the senate was not
political to any great extent. The sug-
ar bill a passed after a short debate
and by an agreement showing that mel
Their side desired to indulge In political
speeches or the subject at this time.
Perhaps 1t was because the senators
want to get home. but the probabili-
ties are that tariff talk was abandoned
because there Is so much guesswork,
SO many 'ifs" and lands as to what
might have happened II there had been
no war or II the war should end.
Primaries at Home.
1t Is often announced that one sen.
ator or another is "unavoidably alb.
sent" Tracing the facts closely one
can find that there is probably a pri-
mary or some other political event go
ing on In the home state Of such sena.
tor which make II important for him
to be on the ground. Nearly all the sen
ators whose terms expire next March
; Ase candidates Tor re-elect1on.