The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-03-07
Appear Now as They Did Dur
Ing Spanish War Days,
TRYING TIMES FOR WILSON
In 1898 Sentiment Of Country Was For
War-Senators and congressman Re
port Many Averse to Armed Con-
fiiot Today-Cox Vigorous Champion
of Reed Amendment.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Washington, March 7.-GSpecial.
The stormy times of the closing days
of the Sixty fourth congress. showing
divisions over the policy when war on
peace was involved, recall to the minds
OF those who were In Washington dur
Ing the days preceding the Spanish
war that there was n great division OF
sentiment In congress ut that time as
to the method TO be pursued There
vas "A war and an anti war feeling nj
that time, just as there has developed
In relation 10 the present situation
However, no such great risk was In
volved at that time as now, for it was
recognized then that Spain could not
last very long against the power OF the
United States.
Although the United States Is much
better prepared for war at the present
time than 1t was In 1898, 1t is no better
prepared for war with any great pow
er now than 1t then was for the war
with Spain.
fJH'H ihfS TOf ~ FfCotdStfts
In those days there was "A great deal
OF talk about the trying times that
President Mckinley was going through,
and for several years following the
Spanish war the administration was
beset with many difficulties. II must
be acknowledged. however, that Presi
dent Wilson Is having his full share
of the trying times and has had since
the European war encroached upon
American rights. The effort to main
tain neutrality at this time has been as
difficult as 1t was for President McKin
ley to keep out of war.
At that time the sentiment of the
country was In favor of a war with
Spain, and from the reports received
by members of congress-, senators and
by administration officials II Is evident
that the sentiment OF many Ameri
cans at the present time is averse 10
war.
Ii was rather unfortunate that the
crisis occurred In the week which pre-
ceded the final dissolution OF congress
and involved the question OF an extra
session or giving the president abso
lutte power TO control the defenses of
the nation until he saw tt to call con
gress together again. In this particu
lar the situation was much different
from that of 1898, when congress was
In session and remained In session I'm
I'll ell necessary legislation for carry
Ing on the war had been enacted
A vexatious Problem.
During the closing days of congress
the subject of distributing patronage
was several times reverted to, and at
II stage OF the proceeding Congress
man Mondell of Wyoming had this to
say: During several years | had the
task imposed upon me OF distributing
patronage. 1t vas very yexatious and
troublesome, and ! am convinced that
1t did me more harm politically than
almost anything else that | had TO do
That Is the testimony OF n great
many members Of congress, but there
are very few men who represent con
gressional districts who would want
the distribution OF patronage taken
from them. In spite OF what they say,
they make 1t a very useful machine AT
times.
Much Discussed Question.
Both senate and house discussed for
hours and fought hard oyer the propo
sition whether men employed by Wa
rious organizations could receive nom
inal employment by the United States
government. The objections to such
employment was that big money In.
terests often sent men throughout the
country, paid for by the interests, but
bearing the commission OF agents OF
officials OF the government.
Put Up to the Southerners.
When they were putting through the
Reed amendment In the house of rep
re%sentatives there were ONE very Wig
orous things said. Congressman Cox
sf Indiana In advocating the Reed
amendment, which would make a great
many southern states bone dry, revert
ed to the claim that prohibition was
adopted in many southern states In or
der to prevent the negroes from drink
ing, but the two quart and lone
quart importations were allowed 81
that the white men could have liquoI
when they wanted 1t. Speaking OF
this subject, Cox said:
"You say intoxicating liquors hav,
a woeful and dangerous effect upol
the negroes. Grant this to be true
does no the same liquor when DRUM
by a white man have the same woefu
and degrading effect upon him? How
can intoxicating liquors when DRUM
bv a nopr0 degrade him and whpl
drunk by a white man have an ele
waiting effect upon him? BY what Law
Of reason or logic can you arrive a
the conclusion that intoxicating liquor
elevate the white man and destroy tn
negro? (Applause.) Ii the use of In
toxicating liquor destroys the negr
and his home, upon the same line o
reason dneS not the use OF ~intoxicaI