The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-08-20
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

longed We May Have Military Law.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Aug 20. Special
The most difficult problems which con
front the managers of the war lii this
country are 70 enforce all the laws
passed by congress nnd aid MIR. Wilson
Ia eXerting the powers granted him lu
time Of war. TIE meet alt the require
ments of the present and coming con
ditions il viii be necessary 10 super
wise the activities and mode OF life Of
more than 100,OO0.0OO people. and that
is no small task.
Much viii be attempted by moral
suasion, by invoking the voluntary aid
OF people to save food. esonomize on
supplies and otherwise conserve the
resources for the war But voluntary
economy will not suffice. There are
too many people who viii pay no at
%tention to appeals Of officials. There
are too many people also who are try
ing 20 make money out Of the war who
viii not be controlled by anything but
positive force.
Under Military Law.
If the war Is prolonged and the Unit
Ell States Il compelled to do all that Is
expected by the allies the time Is not
far distant when the country must go
under military law. Waste and cxtrav.
agnnce will be curbed 10y government
officials. Spectators viii be under a
regime Of price fixing. All commodl-
ties viii have TO be controlled and
doled out as necessity demands.
IL was Senator Lewis of Illinois.
often the spokesman for the admins
traiion In the senate. who said ne was
willing 10 "PrussianIze America In or
der to defeat Prussia" We may have
to 90 under the rigid German rules In
order 10 succeed and furnish food and
ammunitions 10 the armies and 10 the
allies In Europe.
That Will Be Difficult.
Everybody who has anything TO do
with the war looks forward to drastic
action with misgiyings. Ii IL well
known that any curl upon the indlyid-
ual has always been Irksoine to him.
Liberty is more han a catch word. To
dole ont to each person a ration aud to
fix the prices of all commodities are
such giant tasks TINT II Il no wonder
that our officials hope that people may
be persuaded 10 do what is required
OF them rather than compelled.
Asserting Their Patriotism.
Many communities, from states 10
municipalities. have felt impellcd to
assert their patriotism and show that
they are staunchly standing 10y the
government All this ought 10 be sat
isfaetory even If II ought also to be
unnecessary. During the Spanish war
IL II doubtful IL there was a single
note which called for challenge OF 10y
atty. There were many people who
believed that that war was unneces-
sary. but there never was any cues
tion of loyalty Of all the people 10 the
United States We did not then hear
charges OF treason nor men called cop
perheads" IN the debates in congress.
Too Enthusiastic.
There have been amusing comments
made about the overenthusiastic gov.
eminent official who got out a cir
cular urging people To cease JOY rid
ing In order 10 save gasoline. He
must have been unaware that such
form Of recreation IN practieed 10y g
~ everybody higher up" I'm the gov.
eminent. Official motors are going far
and near every evening carrying those
who work on government problems by
day. Possibly the warning was intend
ed for people outside of Washington.
Lewis Commends Smoot.
Senator Lewis OF Illinois was max
Ing n speech and made reference To the
cost Of the war as shown in figures pre-.
scented by Senator Smoot of Utah. In
doing so ne remarked. However much
| differ from him in the doctrines of
politics, as Il mystical. magical, meta
physician of statistics no one can dis
pnte him
Lewis vas interrupted by laughter
from all parts Of the senate, I'm which
smoot heartily Joined.
News Blunt Opinion.
Just before the food control bill pass.
ed Senator New Of Indiana bluntly ex-
pressed this opinion: "If the truth were
known there are not ten members OF
the senate-let us confess it-who ac.
tually believe In this bill. do not
think there are hat many who believe
that the bin IL going TO work out as its
sponsors have sought to make the peo.
pie believe and with great success
And no one rose TO challenge the
statement.
Can Make Trouble.
Senator Jim Reed of Missouri is n
capable man. He Is untiring, and
talk comes easier to him than TO al
most any man In the senate. He is
capable-as one senator put il. He
is capable of making a lot of trouble
before his term ends more than five
years hence"
Reeds undaunted courage and indie
p%endence are enualed only by his de-