The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-05-10
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

of their W party. only one presi
dent In my time failed to destroy the
men who opposed him. President
Taft's opponents among the Repub
leans survived, but mainly because
they were backed by the strongest
personality iii politics of that time
Tafts predecessor.
German Of Maryland attacked Cleye
land and was retired. Many other
Democrats who were opponents of
Cleveland were forced into private life.
Republicans never tried to oppose Me
Kinley, and those who opposed Roose-
Welt suffered for their temerity.
Democrats Have Learned.
The Democrats took n lesson from
the past and decided TO stand by Pres
ident Wilson. Some of the leaders have
OPPOSED him. but they have not sue
ceeded In defeating him. The great
majority of Democrats I'm the house
and senate have found 1t advantageous
to stand by the president. They have
found that IL is far better to support
rather than oppose the president OF
their party. Every man can explain
almost anything save why he had TO
oppose the president. particularly If it
was over a vital matter.
And so the Democrats. having learn
ed their lesson, having lived sixteen
lean years because they could not get
together. have concluded that the way
to continued success is in picking a
leader and standing by him.
Stones Sarcasm.
After four or five days of debate on
the army conscription bill senators be
came weary of hearing the same thing
said Owe and over, and in consequence
a number of strong speeches were
made 10 empty seats. When Senator
Stone OF Missouri took the door TO
speak there were not half "A dozen sen
ators in the chamber. which caused
this gentleman to remark:
THE large assemblage of senators
present is a conspicuous evidence of
the profound interest they feel In the
discussion Of the grave questions be-
fore the senate. This presence is I'm
its way an inspiration. am all the
more impressed by 1t because of the
fact that senators rise from time TO
time to tell us early in their enlighten-
ing observations that they would raise
an army at the earliest possible mo-
ment. Then they proceed to kill hours
of time ina hurrying to a vote ON the
BILL
Power of the President.
In the first part of his speech
against CONSUMPTION Speaker Champ
Clark said.
The president of the United States
is the most powerful parsonage In the
wide. wide world-more powerful than
the kaiser. emperor or king or any 9TH
er variety of %potentate. It is because
ne is the head Of 100,000,000 free peo-
pie. That is the reason he is powerful
lie has his functions TO perform, and,
as far as l have been able to observe.
he is not bashful about performing
them"
Later in his speech he said of the
president: He is a great and good
man. He writes with a great deal of
facility. There has not been "a more
skillful artist in the use Of the English
language in a century than he"
Juvenile -Interroaations.
Congressman Emerson OF Ohio was
making a speech IN favor of conscrip-
ton the other day, and quite "A num-
Der OF men who opposed the admins
t~ration's plan sought to break him up
by asking questions. One of the first
was Congressman billiard OF Colorado.
who wanted to know something about
the constitution.
'"That is all nonsense replied EN-
erson. Il wish you would not ask non
sensical questions"
Then Nichols of South Carolina ask
ed If Emerson intended TO vote for
every measure the, president proposed.
THAT is a child's question" vas the
reply.
Then ~Shallenbarger of Nebraska pro-
pounded a inquiry which Emerson
said was "a child's question"
Gordon of Ohio put a number OF in
quiries to Emerson. who bowled him
over. saying:
"Oh, that Is not a mans question:;
that is a boys question
Human Interrogation Point.
One Of Congressman Gordon's fellow
members described him as a human
interrogation point" Gordon is from
Ohio and has served two terms In the
house. But he did not have to wait
two years to become the 'interroga-
tion point" 1t is a safe bet, day after
day, In any debate on any question,
that every speaker win be interrupted
by Gordon with some kind of a ques-
ton. Sometimes he is thrust aside,
but he can be counted on to make the
attempt; hence the nickname, which II
a popular one.