The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-02-24
Things Taking Usual Course
Despite War Talk.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS GUARDED
Congressman as Well as Newspaper
Men Must Have Passes or Be Vouch-
ed For Before They Are Permitted to
Enter-Senstors Elect Appear on the
Scene.


washington, req. -. special. i
Washington, which for the present
stands for the government of the Unit.
ed States, will not show much differ
ence, In cas- there are actual hostil-
tiles, from what has beer observed
during the past two weeks, since the
break with Germany. Washington did
not show very much difference IN the
slay to day life after President Wilson
had Informed congress Of a determine
ton TO break diplomatic relations with
Germany. Outside of the various de
partments there was very little to In
dictate that the country was approach
ing what Secretary Lansing called "the
verge Of war;
The most important innovation was
the greater ear with which public
buildings were guarded. Men could
not get into the public buildings with
out passes. Identification was neces-
sary, as If Il state of war existed.
Newspaper men, as well as members
Of congress-, had to have somebody to
vouch for them or a pass issued by
the constituted authority"
All Proper and Correct.
This was all proper aud correct. 1t
would have been foolish on the part
If government departments to have
allowed indiscriminate visitors to en-
ter the public buildings OF the United
States, especially when we know that
there are so many cranks abroad who
might at any time seek to destroy pub
lie property with the insane idea that
they would accomplish great results
by doing so. We all remember that
an insane man placed a bomb In the
capitol of the United States and "A few
days later attempted to assassinate j..
Pierpont Morgan at his Long Island
home for no other reason than that he
thought his acts would lead In bring
ing about peace In Europe and saving
the destruction OF human lives and
property.
So 1t Is well that all of these precau-
lions should be taken.
Outside oHicialdom.
Outside of this o~ficialdom, which Ii
so apparent when one gets to a depart
ment Of the government, there Is 10
other indication whatever that the
United States Is I'm the least disturbed
over the conditions that prevail In Eu-
o p and which are likely TO involve
the United States In the world war.
The capital has been going on pretty
much as 1t always goes, and there has
been little evidence to show that grim
vlsaged war; Ii threatening at every
point.
The fact is that people In the "a
tional capital have been almost unable
to conceive that there Is a possibility
of the United States getting into the
war. which Is rapidly growing world
wide.
Senators Elect In Evidence.
This Is the time when the new SEN
ators, those who were elected last fall,
put In an appearance and are seen on
the floor Of the senate and In the diff
ferent departments. They are getting
accustomed to the work which begins
for them ON March A.
Consuming Time.
While there was the greatest kind
of pressure for time, both house and
senate spent many hours upon incon-
s~equentiaI matters. For instance, the
house busted itself for many hours
owe the question as to whether one
OF its members should be made a mem
Der Of the board of managers for dis
abled soldiers. In fact, there was a
very long filibuster owe this question.
the house remaining In session until
long into the night, when 1t finally
gave up for want OF a quorum. Mean
while many other important matters
waited.
Almost q War.
~Belligerent rights will have to be ex-
tended to two Republican members If
this thing keeps up. Gussie Gardner
and Hampy Moore have about reached
the stage where they are at war.
While no actual declaration has been
made, the preliminary notes have been
exchanged. Diplomatic relations have
been broken off, and each has been
given his passports, SO 1t is only a
question OF time until there is war
between these two distinguished mem.
bers OF the house.
Al ~ 40 I'LL a ooi1uCl 10 ~
pro-ally and Moore is SO anti-war.
They Have Enough.
Champ Clark asserts that he will be
speaker Of the e congress. and Jim
Mann seems to be pretty sure that he
will be selected. as this colloqmy be-
tween Mann and Ragsdale Of South
Carolina might indicate.
Ragsdale had just finished a speech,
and Mann remarked that he regretted
that Ragsdale had not been admitted
to the marine corps, so that he would
not be a member Of the house.
Il am quite sure,' retorted Ragsdale,
that you would like to lose a few
more from the Democratic side, be-
Il you will be badly In need Of
them before you are speaker"
I'VE have enough" remarked Mann
careless1y.