The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-04-10
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

by AHl ffOh W. DUNN.
Washington. April l0.-[Special i
Except to the western men the propo-
sltion advanced 10y a large section OF
officials In regard to government own
ership and leasing of public lands
seems perfectly feasible.
The leasing system is a part of the
conservation movement II seems sim
pie enough, especially as the system of
grazing now In force on the forest re
serves has resulted In an increase OF
cattle aud sheep. Ii is believed that a
leasing and grazing system on the arid
and seniarid public lands will likewise
he beneficial
The Western Point of View.
But the western men, or a large mum
her OF them. have a different point OF
view. They say that the retention Of
these lands by the government and the
adoption OF a leasing system will pre-
vent their acquisition by settlers; they
will not be taxable as long as they re
main the property of the government
and the development of the west for
ever retarded.
That is the lineup on conservation
1t applies TO water power sites, coal,
oil and other lands which are called
natural resources. There will be a
tremendous battle before the question
is finally settled.
Was a Free Contributor.
The Congressional Record will miss
Charles A. Lindbergh OF Minnesota. In
the dozen years he was a member OF
the house he was a free contributor to
the columns OF that publication. Lind
bergh did mot care whether he spoke
at length or was given leave to print
His speeches were for deep students
and thinkers. for historians. They dealt
with important subjects, fundamentals
of government and finance. They did
nor attract much attention. out Ii was
generally conceded that they showed
profound thought.
Designation In Type.
At the beginning OF the list of mem
bers of congress there is the following:
Democrats in roman; Republicans In
italics; Progressives In small caps In
dependents In roman caps; Prohibition
lists In italic caps; Socialists In heavy
type"
SO 1t takes six different styles 10 des-
ignate the political affiliations of the
present membership of the house.
Sure of Military Training.
Whatever else may happen the coun-
try Is sure of having a lot of men well
trained In military matters. There has
certainly been a scare thrown into the
people Of the United States on the sub
jeet of preparedness. and now we will
find hundreds of men asserting that
they are much In favor OF prepared
ness. although they are opposed to war.
Why Condemn Them7
There Is no reason why the indie
pendents In congress should be con
demned because they sought good com.
mittee places in return for voting foi
one party or the other. There has not
been a ~speakership contest In many
years, and the last bitter contest thai
occurred was one of extraordinary
character when candidates for speaker
were promised and given prominent
chairmanships when they voted fol
and turned their supporters IN to tho
winning candidate,
There was some criticism of thos,
methods, but it was a part of politics
They could not win. Their man coult
not be speaker. and so they made tn
best terms they could for themselve
and their friends. Even William j
Bryan landed on the committee OF
ways and means as a part of that deaI
So why hold up the Independents 4
the present congress to scorn becaus
they were making the best possibl
trade they could?
Committee Places Overestimated.
If there is anything that a new mem
Der. and an old member, for that ma
ter. goes out for with more vim tina
anything else 1t is a place on leadin
committees. Some way senators an
representatives think that they ca
make good II they get good committe
assignments. Committee places ar
not nearly as important as they wer
In days gone by, and a man withou
any committee place can make himsel
felt in congress If he has the force. A
the same time the sole effort Of a me-
senator or representative Is to Ian
himself on a good committee.
Pressure For Tickets.
There never was such a pressure II
tickets for any performance ever pull
ed off equal to that when Presidel
Wilson delivered his address to the e.
tr%aordinary session OF congress. Nj
lionaires who have been able to con
mand places everywhere applied
vain for tickets to the hall of the hOus
Of representatives on that day. Po
ticians from afar. men of great proI
inence In the business and pOlitic
world. were unable to obtain admi
sion. The impression prevailed thI
that was the most momentous OccasiG
this country has known In recent year