The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-05-23

members have adopted the "Kitchin
method" This Is to shut your eyes
and vote for the measure. and the
chairman of the ways and means com
mittee first gave voice to 1t. But
many other members of the house do
not feel the same way.
1t might be all very well for quite a
large number of men with big majorl-
ties behind them, but the man who has
to work hard to get elected is Obliged
TO give some attention to protests from
home.
Mas Commander In Chief.
In the opposition which was made
to the provision allowing Roosevelt to
raise n division and 20 TO France IT
was said by n number OF men, "Roose
welt commanded a regiment all right
and probably could command IA bri-
gade, but could he command a divi-
sion or an army corps?"
Well, 1t may he recalled that the
American people elected him comman-
der I'm chief OF not only the army. but
the navy. lie held that position for
seven and one-half years.
OF Course There's a Difference.
1t must, of course, be remembered
that there Is "A difference between the
commander in chief as mentioned in the
constitution and n military commander
i'm the field. No one could imagine that
Lincoln would nave been as good a field
commander as many Of the generals he
named and particularly the successful
men he finally selected. Probably no
one would have regarded Cleveland,
Harrison or Taft as ideal military com
manders of armies In the field and fight
ing. And-this is said with all due def
erence-Woodrow Wilson is no doubt
a better commander In chief AZ home
than he would be of an army in France.
And Of all the presidents since Gen
eral Grant 1t is probable that Roose-
Welt would be considered the best sol
dier. At least he is the idol of many
OF the young men of the land.
Bringing In the President.
The position OF the president regard
ing selectiye CONSUMPTION was frequent
ly brought into the discussion Of the
bin raising an army when it was IN
der consideration. Congressman Sims
OF Tennessee asserted that he did not
think the proposition for selective con
scription originated with the president,
but with the general staff and war col
lege. Congressman Mccormick OF iii
nois asserted that the president was
the first person 10 mention selectlye
draft and recommended its adoption.
Then Congressman Meeker of Missouri
entered the debate and put this ques-
tion to Sims:
HAS not the gentleman during his
past career literally taken the hide off
from the fellow that did not stand by
the PRESIDENT"
II have" replied Sims, "and | expect
to take some more the same way"
A little later Sims, after he had re-
lated how he told his people he would
vote against CONSUMPTION, said, II am
going TO vote as | said | would before
election, and without which declara-
tion l could not have been elected"
SeIective CONSUMPTION.
In talking about conscription 1t de
velops that for a long time at least
compulsory service in the army will
be by selection and an effort made to
utilize men who are not necessary In
walks of life hat would be fully as
useful at home. Men with dependent
families and relatives, men whose serv-
ices are needed on the farm, men whose
work in factories and shops is neces-
sary to carry on production, will be ex-
cused from CONSUMPTION until II be-
comes more necessary TO utilize them
than at present.
Says the Rich Should Pay.
Congressman Oldfeld of Arkansas, a
member of the ways and means COM
mittee, has rather pronounced views
upon the subject of taxation. 'The
rich people should pay for this war"
he said. MANY of them are RESPONSE
BILE for the war, and they ought to pay.
No man ought to want to retain more
than 100000 a year income. All
above that ought to be cheerfully given
to the government in times like these"
No doubt Oldfeld will find a vast
majority of people agreeing with him.
Senator Stones Comment.
The finance committee was packed
full of publishers fighting the increase
on second class rates. Senator Stone
came in long before any other senators
and took his seat. He looked around
and smiled.
THE smartest lot of fellows in the
country" was the comment Of the Mis-
souri, senator, who frequently berates
the newspapers and periodicals in the
senate.