The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-09-03

War Taxes Are Not Liked.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Sept. l. Especial J.
Every senator has received a communi-
cation asking his opinion and suggest
ing that he use his influence to discour-
age the wearing of mourning by people
of the United States during the contin-
uation OF the war The proposition has
struck the senators very favorably, as
they realize that In case a few hun
dred thousand young men are killed
In action In Europe IL will mean the
wearing OF mourning by a great many
relatives In this country.
Any one who has Travelled IN Canada
since the war began realizes what q
depressing effect the wearing OF mourn
ing has had upon the people of that
country, and more particularly upon
visitors from the United States. No
doubt the entry OF the United States
into the war received a great deal OF
Encouragement from people who saw
what II meant to the people OF Canada
just by observation Of the many mourn
Ing costumes to be seen In every part
Of the Dominion.
A Matter of Persuasion.
But congress will not undertake to
control the wearing Of mourning a. II
does the fixing OF prices OF foods or
the prices of fuel That would be go
ing a great deal too far. IL may be-
that speeches will be made I'm both
houses of congress protesting against
mourning and that a publicity ram
paign win be started along these lines.
Some public men here, many OF
those who voted for the war, assert
that the war Is not popular, and they
say 1t will be still more unpopular
when we begin to get returns from the
battlefelds In Europe showing how
many men have been killed or wound
ed.
1t is doubtful, however, II the wives.
mothers, sisters and near relatives of
men who are killed In the European
war can be persuaded not to show their
grief In the usual garb Of mourning.
A Demand That Never Ceases.
While the CONSUMPTION law Is work
ing and men are drafted into the serv-
ice of the United States, there II stin
an unlimited demand on the part of
many men to be officers In the army.
There Is not a single man In my con-
stituency, 30 far as | have heard" re-
marked n Of the prominent senator's,
who wants to be a private. All ap-
plications i get are for positions as
officers"
Experts Are Wanted.
There are plenty Of opportunities for
experts In Washington. Almost any
person that can show that he or she Is
an expert In any line can get q job with
a fat salary. and II Ia not dificult to
convince those who are giving out
these Jobs that one Is an expert. A
good line Of talk and q number Of Sc
rious scientific phrases are about all
that Is necessary.
Prices Of Wheat.
Senator Nelson of Minnesota II not
quite satisfied with the food bin be-
cause 1t makes the minimum price OF
wheat 81 a bushel and does not make
it apply to this years crop as well as
the crop Of next year. Our farmers"
said the Minnesota senator, would get
$3.50 or 50 a bushel for wheat II the
prices were not fixed. There Is a short
age of wheat, and the farmers would
reap the benefit Of 1t unless the food
administration fixed a lower price"
Almost q Sure Method.
They are trying to make the war un-
popular by taxation" was the comment
Of a United States senator, referring
to the activities Of his colleagues who
were urging a system OF taxation diff
ferent from that recommended by the
finance committee. 1t makes no differ.
ence what system of taxation In adopt
ed, for the raising OF s2.OOO,OOO.0OO ad-
ditlonal taxes for the war Ia sure to be
unpopular, no matter how 1t Is levied.
Whether 1t will make the war unpopu.
lar or not is another question.
Rushed Senators.
Nearly every member of the senate
mas been willing to see every person In.
terested In the legislation which haf
been pending, and many people have
been vitality interested In the revenue
bill. Consequently the senators have
been very much rushed, and yet they
have given a great deal Of attention t.
the debates. Rarely has any measure
received the same consideration and at
tention. Senators seem to think that
those who occupy the floor have some
thing worth while to say, and they are
Willing to listen to them. At the sam
time they are frequently obliged to 81
into the corridor to meet and consult
constituents who are interested In thu
legislation.
1Thsy Call Him Governor"
Former Congressman william 8. Ben
net of New York comes to the capita
frequently, and 1t Is noticed that quit
a number Of New York Republican,
and a few Democrats az well address
him as Governor" There II an Idel