The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-03-29

Bad acknowledgements Or
ganixation of Men, House Is Called.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, March 29.-LSpecial T.
Erroneous Impressions prevail In re-
gard to the congress of the United
States, due to the somewhat nippant
manner In which comments are made
in the public prints and the rather vic
lent criticisms of senators and mem
bers by editors when these men do not
act and vote as the editors think they
should.
During the undertaking days one of
the most astute writer's of harsh crit
icism came TO Washington after writ
ing several articles and made an In
y~estigation. He finally made the won
derful discovery that water will not
rise higher than its source and that
congressman as a whole were repre-
sentative of the people who elected
them.
Kent Makes Discoveries.
Buried III debris of a closing con-
gress Is a rather remarkable statement
by William Kent of California, who
closed a service Of six years in the
house on March 4. Kent had been a
business man for years and was fairly
well acquainted with public affairs,
and yet he made a number OF discov-
cries In congress-. lie was M indie
panIapf and A rafnpntn 4. AponntraptIn
Ii may be assumed that he looked with
a critical eye upon everything that
came under his observation. lie found
congress much better than he antici-
pated.
Interesting valedietory.
There Is not a more interesting vale
dictory than kent's. Here are a few
gems culled from "A column of his re-
marks:
six years K | came here with an
idea about the house of rep
resentatiyes, but | have learned a lot.
| have discovered, Mr.. Speaker, that
this house Is the finest organization of
men. the finest club, that | have ever
belonged 10.
II came here with the Idea that men
like the former speaker, u dear I'm
Gle Joe, were devils incarnate because
they disagreed with what | considered
10 be progressive legislation. | have
found out that he represents the old
pioneer type of thought and reasoning,
which 10 his mind ought still to be
dominant. | have learned that he, too,
lis one of the most loyable of human
beings and that he deservedly has the
respect and the affection of this house.
II have learned TO appreciate the
Republican leader, Mr.. Mann. | have
disagreed with him oftentimes, and he
with me, but | have seen his deyo-
ton to the public service, and ! have
wondered how many hours there are
In his day that he may get over and
understand the mass of national legis-
lation. | do not believe there has ever
been a more faithful legislator In this
place"
Women and Legislation.
Making a speech which he said va
10 be entirely truthful, William $. Ben.
net OF New York had the following to
say, speaking for the time on the sub.
ject Of high cost Of living:
Most of US are married, and there
fore we realize when you raise the
price of potatoes 800 per cent and meat
300 or 400 per cent that you will heal
from your wife. ! do; so do other
men, and until women have voted FOL
forty or fifty years, which will be-
some time from now, they VIII mo-
really get to a point where they will
be drawn to a realization that you
cannot correct everything at once by
legislation"
The Junior Senator.
Hiram w. Johnson OF California will
he the Junior senator when congress
meets on the I'd OF April and he ap
pears to take the oath OF Office. Senior
ity Is a fixed custom In the senate, ant
Notwithstanding the fact that johnson
was elected with several other new
men MT the November elections tn
fact that he was not present to tax
the oath of Office will make him tn
junior OF all OF the other senator's, an
when he Is assigned to committees b
will be at the tail end OF all OF then
on that account.
or course a man like Johnson wi
not Heed committee places to max
himself felt as long as the senate II
mains an open forum, as 1t will eve
under a modified cloture that wa
adopted In the special session, an
there will still be an opportunity for
man like Johnson to make speeche
Ahat will attract attention or engag
In the debates.
Time to Shut Up Shop.
Congressman Volstead Of Minnes0t
is not one OF those Republicans VIII
think that 1t would be better party pol
tics for the Democrats to control til
next house. IF 1t has come to a pas
where the Republicans are afraid
assume responsibility we had bette
shut IN shon and go out of bushes