The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-04-24
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

IN the country Is hRltdteu by war nc
~tivitIes. Naturally when "a nation goes
to war there must be a great deal done
by the governing powers Of hat nation.
But the United States has gone to war
under extraordinary conditions and
that has caused an activity In all de
partment and In the senate and house
of representatives.
While the excitement which attended
the Spanish war Is lacking-that IL,
the feverlsh excitement manifested at
that time-there Is a seriousness about
the present situation which Is appa-
rent when we come in contact with
those who have the responsibility of
the situation upon them.
Not Quite Realized.
And yet as we mingle among the
federal officials, the senators and rep
resentatives, and even the army and
navy men, there Is a feeling that they
do not quite realize the magnitude of
what Is before them.
OF course when the house takes only
two days to pass a bill which costs this
government 81, ZOO, 100000 there is no
question that the administration and
the congress are fully aware OF the tire
mendous Importance OF h war.
Can't Pierce the Future.
There is an evident attempt on the
part of many statesmen and writer's 10
peer into the future to try to see the
consequence 10 forecast the future,
particularly us TO the results which
will follow the war. In fact, there are
people who show as much concern
about the final results as they do to
the part which the United States WIN
take I'm the war.
Prohibition and Money.
There are arguments both for and
against prohibition In connection with
money to carry ON the government
during these times when much money
is needed for war purposes. | have
heard some people say that IL would
be well to have the prohibition states
repeal their prohibition laws In order
that more money could be raised by
taxing liquor sales. On the other
hand, | have heard II asserted that all
the grain that IL used to manufacture
spirits and beer ought to be taken by
the government In order to afford a
larger supply for food.
One Of Three.
l suppose 1t did not occur to many
people that when Champ Clark was
elected speaker and took the oath OF
office at the beginning OF the special
session of congress he was n Of the
three men elected for four successive
terms as speaker OF the house OF rep
resentatives. Uncle Joe Cannon was
one of the others, and Cannon was the
only man who served four complete
terms of eight years. Many years ago
a man named Stevenson of Virginia
was elected speaker four successive
times, but he did not serve the entire
eight years, having resigned before his
last term expired. l think Henry Clay
was elected five or six times as speak
er, but they were not consecutive cleo
lions, and he only served several short
terms.
The South and the Negroes.
1t may seem rather curious, but 1t is
a fact that the south Is really afraid
OF losing the negroes. From all that
has been said since the civil war one
would suppose that the south was real
ly tired of the negro race. but when
any proposition comes along looking
to the emigration of the negroes we
are sure to find a great deal of oppo-
sition.
Just now there is considerable oppo-
sition TO any volunteer army system
which does not distribute the volun-
teers equally among the states, and Ii
Is known that the reason for this Is
the fear that several hundred thousand
negroes from the south will become
United States volunteers, leaving the
south without adequate labor to plant
and harvest crops. That is one phase
or the negro question which is not gen.
orally understood IN the northern and
western states.
Avoiding Censorship FolIies.
There are quite a number Of people
who are earnestly endeavoring to avoid
censorship follies which a few mis-
guided individuals In military circles
are trying to ESTABLISH. 1t Is possible
with the aid of a number Of men con
nected with the administration, to pre-
vent a censorship which will do a great
deal of harm to the newspapers ant
do no good to any one.
Daniels Keeps His Head.
1t is gratifying to a great many peo
pie who really like Josephus Daniels
to observe that he keeps his head dur
ing all of these troublesome times
around the state, war and navy de
partments. He is n man who cal
be depended upon at all times to tax,
a common sense view Of the various
problems that are presented on &C
count Of the war.
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