The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-02-16
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Feb. 15.-lSpecial.l -
Lincoln's birthday reminds us that
every year some congressman attempts
to have the day declared a national hOl-
iday. The fact is that there are no
national holidays recognized by the
government OF the United Statesmen
even Christmas-although there are
many days In the year which are CON
sidered holidays by the various states
Of the Union.
Frequently bills are introduced pro
viding for national holidays, but con.
gressmen are not inclined TO pass any
Of them. Many would have Washing
toms birthday created a day and have
all the nation quit work; others would
have the landing of Columbus thus
commemorated, but Ii is doubtful if
any of these measures Will ever pass.
Champ on the Firing Line.
Champ Clark has become weary of
acting as umpire in the house and has
gone out as a pinch hitter. Several
times of late he has been down on the
floor, participating I'm the debates and
taking an interest In legislation. IL is
possible that Champ will have TO take
leadership during the consideration of
the preparedness program. No one
seems anxious TO assume that duty.
Ovens Short Cut.
Senator Owen has introduced a bill
intended to give women a short cut to
the voting privilege. 1t simply pro
vides that women shall be allowed TO
vote for senator's and members of con
gress.
or course this will involve constltu-
tional objections, but Owen thinks that
congress has full power TO prescribe
the qualifications of voters for both
senator's and members of the house.
The bin has gone to the committee
on privileges and elections OF the sen
ate. n committee composed of lawyers.
with fifteen members, seven of whom
are pronounced suffragists. 1t is just
possible that the Owen bin may be re-
ported to the senate.
U~nderwood's Successor.
The new member of congress who
succeeds a man OF great prominence
generally has a hard time to get a
foothold. Now, take Oscar Under
woods successor, Huddleston of Ala
bama. A few pointed him out as the
successor of the former leader. and
that is as far as he got.
But Huddleston had a chance to make
good recently. A bin for loaning tents
to the Confederate veterans encamp-
Kaast xwn- $50 ADl IFaN AVar. .gAArA
Huddleston. who was In charge of ii.
Mann had reserved the right to object,
but took only a little time and then
expressed his regret that there were
not more Confederate veterans TO take
advantage Of the tents. OF course that
got n big hand on the Democratic side,
and 1t also gave Huddleston an oppor-
tunity to 'soar the eagle In comment
ing upon the disappearing veterans
who wore the gray and the blue.
The Newspapers, of Course.
Ex-Congressman Stevens of Minneso-
ia was talking about the present con-
ditions and tendency toward war.
"Well. the newspapers will bring on
q war;" he said.
"Of course statesmen will have moth
Ing TO do with It," replied a newspaper
man Here's the president on the
stump talking about as warlike as a
a can; congressman talking for
great military preparation; Wilson re
versing himself within a year; Jim
Mann, the great Republican leader, re-
versing himself within a year. Who's
making this war. the newspapers or
the statesmen"
you are making out a pretty good
case" was the comment of Stevens.
Menacing Letters.
Anonymous letters or letters from
unknown people seldom do any harm,
but they are sometimes annoying.
= That is the way Secretary Lansing and
Mrs. Lansing feel about letters they
receive from suffragists because Mrs.
Lansing is a devoted anti-suffragist.
well fix you by defeating Wilson
and making you lose your job" n of
the letters to Lansing read. "A man
{ your position ought to be able to
control your wife," is the tenor OF
pthers.
Some OF the letters are still more
vicious, showing that earnest suffra
gists do not recognize the right of their
sisters to dissent.
The Senate and Roads.
The Shackleford good roads bill has
gone to the committee on agriculture
of the senate, and the postoflice com
mlttee Is making a fight for it. Some
years ago the Shackleford bin passed
the house and the senate postofict
committee took charge and sidestepped
the whole matter by providing a com
mission. That delayed matters FOL
nearly -four years.
but there seems to be a disposition
In the senate this year to begin gov
eriimcnt aid to roads. If the agricul
tural committee is in real earnest the