The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-02-04
Preparedness Speeches of Great
Importance to Political Future.
POPULARITY is AT STAKE.
Some Leaders Say That the Average
Business Man is Opposed to the
President and Will Vote Against
Him-Fairly Accurate Opinion Can
Be Formed After His Trip.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. Feb. 81 Special. lit
will be interesting to note the effect of
the trips and speeches Of President VIII
son upon his ,'olitical fortunes. Some
time will elapse before any one will
know whether he has created Il senti-
ment upon the subject Of preparedness
which will aid his program. but there
ought to be a fairly just estimate of
the political standing Of the president
after he has completed his tours and
opinions begin To be expressed concern
fng his chances to be reelected.
That the president must work hard
for his political popularity there
seems to be little question. 1t has
been apparent for several months that
the Republicans were highly elated
over their prospects. and they believe
that they have a good opportunity 10
win the next election
Business Element Dissatisfied?
TO talk with business men say that
Notwithstanding the large volume Of
business which is now being transact
ed in the country there is general OPP
position among business men 10 the
president. Some persons 20 50 far as
10 say "a lot of business men are wait
ing 10 get "A crack ut the president"
And. strange to say many of these
men do not express any particular in
terest In the Republican candidate.
They seem to take it for granted that
the Republicans are going 10 nominate
a man they can vote for
Navy Best Defense
Senator Swanson of Virginia does
not expect to see the program Of the
administration adopted as presented.
For instance. he says that there will
be no large increase in the military
establishment This country does
not want and won't have large
standing army" remarked the senator
There will he little increase in the
army. but it is likely that congress
viii go further i'm the matter OF naval
increase than the administration has
asked. A powerful navy is the guar
antee Of safety.
in all Europe today London is the
only capital that is absolutely safe
from capture by an enemy. and it is
safe on account OF the British navy.
We can make ourselves absolutely Sc
cure by large navy. for no country
will attack us while we have a power
full navy"
Will II Be Smothered?
Two years ago the house passed a
good roads bill similar TO that which
passed recently. The fate of that bill
was never for a moment In doubt. 1t
was smothered in the senate. Several
counter propositions were presented
and allowed to linger on the shelf un-
til it was too late to do anything. 1t
is a good guess that the same process
will be worked again this year
Jim MARITIME In Eruption.
Every once in awhile Jim MARITIME
goes berserk against the Republican
party and like fierce windmill,
roaring Hon or anything that makes
noise and looks threatening. General
ly his text is a newspaper clipping
that good times prevail throughout the
country.
He gets results. too. for on one re
cent occasion he put up Gallinger,
Lippitt and Brandegee, all New Eng
land senator's, who had to come TO the
rescue of the manufacturers and the
tariff In that section Of the country.
He Was For Pensions.
Congressman Thomas of Kentucky
created quite lot Of amusement III
the house over the opposition of sew
eral southern men to pensions. First
he tackled Howard Of Georgia. He is
simply against pensions-all pensions"
he said. II am for all pensions That
is the difference between u.s."
II am going to get all the pensions
for Kentucky | cam" he continued. II
would rather the money should go
down into Kentucky than up among
the icicles III Maine. | will say to my
friend Howard that he is butting his
head against stone wall"
"rll admit It, interjected Howard.
Then why do you continue to be so
foolish?" asked Thomas.
Then he included Tribble of Georgia
with Howard. This stuff of these two
men from Georgia getting up here ev-
cry time we have pension bill is fool
ish They hop up and raise mischief
about something and do not know what
they are raising 1t about My advice
is that they quit it,
Can Do What He Wants.
CONGRESSMAN Raker of California had