The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-05-26
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Washington, May Z4.-lSpeClal. =
The attitude of Russia. which has Civ
the allies so much concern, calls to
mind the important part which Russia
played In bringing on the war.
After the assassination OF the crown
prince OF Austria that country prepar-
ed to attack Servia. Russia prepared
to defend the little Slavic country, and
Germany began mobilization to back
up Austria.
France as the ally of Russia began
to prepare for war, and In "A little while
Belgium, England and later Italy were
Ora wn into the struggle.
Would 1t not be strange If Russia,
after playing such an important part
In bringing ON the war, should drop
out OF It?
"EntansIing Alliances"
George Washington warned against
e|ntangling alliances. lie referred to
America. If the European countries
could have avoided %entangling ALI
ances war might have been averted
The entente and the triple alliance
were both menaces TO the peace of Eu-
rope long before the war broke out.
One fear of the entrance Of the Unit
ed States into the great struggle Is that
we may come out with "entangling al
liances" ana possibly the loss of our
Monroe doctrine.
Stop the Aystsria.
The situation is bad enough. but.
for heavens sake, do not make it any
worse by exaggeration." Both Sena-
tor Lewis of Illinois and Senator Reed
of Missouri gave voice to that idea I'm
speeches protesting against the hys-
terra that prevails about possible star
walton I'm this country.
They said that all that was necessary
was to use common sense I'm the con
seryation of food and not reach u
and buy every time that there was a
report of a shortage.
Teddy Puts In the Pep.
Congressman Ragsdale of South Caro-
lima, a nan who is quite apt TO vote
his convictions, is one of those who
voted to give Roosevelt an opportunity
to 20 to France 10 tight.
Teddy puts pep in things" said
Ragsdale. He is an ex-president of
the United States and for that reason
will stand well i'm Europe. He has had
a certain amount OF military expert
ence, but the most important fact of
all is that he will interest the whole
country in the war. At present our
people have not shown much interest"
Simmons Apologized.
When the little room of the senate
finance committee was crowded to such
an extent with American publishers
hat even a member of the committee
could scarcely squeeze in and out Chair
man Simmons a%pologiZed, explaining
that the large room for such hearings
in the senate Office building was so far
away that senators could not get to the
senate in time to vote on many OF the
important measures and amendments
considered.
At that time the espionage bin was
up, and nearly every senator wanted To
vote on every proposition in il.
Senator Simmons was quite struck
with the formidable showing Of the
publishers who appeared in large mum.
Der to protest against the heavy in
crease in their postal rates.
Would Twist Their Necks."
Speaking of the publishers-and there
We're representatives. of daily papers
weekly papers. trade papers, agricul
tural papers, farm papers, periodicals
OF all kinds and many others present
Senator Warren of Wyoming in a some
what %jocular manner remarked that he
would like to twist their necks" no
only In regard TO second class increas,
mail, but also the censorship.
Senator Warren is not IA candidate
for reelection.
Overworking "Overwhelmed."
Senator Lewis of Illinois started Il
say the other day that he was "over
whelmed with kilograms and letters,
but he discarded the word, ASSERTING
that he had beer in receipt of man!
hundreds of protests against a certain
proposition. 1t has been the custom
OF most men 10 assert that they hav'
been overwhelmed" when they get
lot of letters and kilograms on an,
particular subject.
kitchir Picked Up Seo,o0o,0o o
A mar who was protesting agains
the war tax upon his particular line
OF goods and activities mentioned L
Chairman Kitchin of the ways an
means committee a number of article
that might well he taxed and produc
revenue.
II am glad you cape In" said KitcI
in. "Your suggestions have bee
most helpful. Since we started TO pre-
pare this bill various suggestions sue
as you have made have enabled me t
pick up $~90,O00,0Oo in revenue that
might have overlooked"
And that is what the man who trie
to put 1t on the other fellow" accom-
pnshsd.