The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-04-16

by AHlhOH w. OONN.
Washington, April 16.-I Special.
There have been numerous confer
ences on the proposition Of an alliance
with Great Britain for the war ON
terms which will include home rule In
Ireland. Naturally Great Britain hes
itates about having any interference
in her domestic affairs, just as the
United States would hesitate I'm regard
to any suggestions as to what we
should do with the Philippines, Porto
Rico or Alaska.
In fact, this feature OF the presi-
dents programmed meaning Ireland
alone, but others suggested by his
suggestions In his speech to the SEN
ate. In which he wanted the i~ndepend-
ence OF small peoples assured and that
no people should be governed without
their own c%onsent-is something over
which many men hesitate.
Freeing Small Peoples.
In this connection II Is said by those
who are cogniZant OF what has been
going on that In order TO carry out
this plan or program II would be nee
essary also to secure the freedom OF
Poland from Russia, the freedom OF
Bohemia from Austria, and many 9TH
er OF the small states and nationalities
would insist upon their W self gov
eminent. All of this would require a
great deal of negotiation and In the
end a great deal OF supervision by a
general council of nations and might
result in Ii re complications than the
United States would care TO SUI
Another interesting feature m up
I'm connection with separations of small
states and nationalities from the con-
troll OF governments OF n different race.
The French In the province OF Quebec
have never been entirely satisfied with
the British rule, and under the beneti-
eent plan of general home rule for all
nationalities they might insist upon be
coming a nation Of their own.
Until After the War.
For the most part every nation
would prefer to have all of these ques-
lions postponed until after the war for
discussion. Nations do not like TO
make terms I'm the midst OF a war.
The United States Ii 10Y In no posi-
tion TO make terms, for IL Is In the
war. IL In one OF the allies. This
country cannot say TO Great Britain,
We will 90 In under certain conditions.
That time has passed. We are already
In, and. while England might be
sounded as to home rule I'm Ireland,
the granting OF homo rule is not a nee
essary condition for the United States
TO enter the war vigorously.
A Senatorial Deviation.
Until the beginning OF the present
special session Of congress 1t has been
an undertaking custom In the United
States senate TO read by title every bill
introduced. The suggestion has been
made several times that all petitions
and bills should be introduced as they
are In the house, without any reading.
The senate has always scorned that
as lacking senatorial precedent. But
a great change has occurred. Senators
offer whole patches OF bills, and nc
further mention is made OF them, the
assumption being that they are read
the first time by title. The time may
come when the senate will adopt the
house plan OF using a basket for the
introduction OF all save important
measures, and they will be printed In
the Record as a part of the proceed.
ings.
Stands by the President.
Senator William Alden Smith OF
Michigan announced positively that
no matter what he had said about the
president In the past, during the wa.
he will not add any burdens to the
chief executive by passing any criti
cism upon him. This voluntary heir
did not cause any great citation at the
White House, for there is a good deaI
of resentment felt by the president
against Smith for what he has sait
and lone in the past.
But William Alden made some sug
gestions which will not be needed BY
the president. He told him to take
advice and name among his advisers
Senator Knox Of Pennsylvania, for
mer President Roosevelt and former
President Taft. Those of us wht
know the president or who have oh
served him for four years know JUS
how much attention he will pay t.
this suggestion from Michigan's senior
senator. The president is not mucl
inclined to take advice from anybody
Talk Of Billions.
This talk about five, six, ten or TWEEN
ty billion dollars might give a grea
deal Of concern to the people If the,
really knew what 1t meant. How
many really know what a billion real
~ means? One may get an idea b!
the fact that there are in the United
States today Of all kinds Of none.