The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-04-04

dSllngtOn, April Especial. i
Harking back nearly a score OF years.
those who are now recalling the
events of that time remember how
hard President Mckinley struggled TO
avoid a war with Spain. That was
nineteen years ago. Back Of him were
the conservative senators. Hanna.
Hale, Allison, Plat of Connecticut.
Spooner, Cull0fn and "A dozen others.
Under the superior wisdom OF Tom
Reed all but forty Republicans in the
house Of representatives We're trying
Il avoid war.
Clamoring for war were the Demo
Gratis almost to a man In both houses
and enough insurgent Republicans to
constitute a majority, and they won.
What Could Not Be Foreseen.
If the men who precipitated the
Spanish war could have foreseen what
would be the outcome OF that affair
they would have hesitated long before
voting for 1t. Former Senator Bristow
of Kansas. speaking OF the approach
ing war, referred TO those stirring days
nineteen years ago. saying:
1.-THE president then was harshly
criticised because he tried to keep us
out of war. but when the plunge came
none suspected what farreaching re
suits would ensue. As a result Of
three months of war with Spain we
have the Philippines, Porto Rico and a
practical suzerainty over Cuba. When
congress declared war on Spain | am
sure no one at that time had any idea
that we should acquire additional ter
ritory. We did not want 1t, and now
that we have II we don't know what To
do with it
War Without Fighting.
There is a general impression that
If we become involved i'm war there will
not be a great deal Of fighting, because
before we can train a sufficient mum
Der of men the war will be over
Men who have travelled "A great deal.
men who have been trying to get the
views of the people. give voice to the
above quoted statement. They find
that idea prevailing throughout the
land. We will be in the war, but not
fighting IL.
This Is rather a strange idea. 1t
comes from our splendid isolation. We
have thought ourselves immune from
wars unless we chose To make them.
because our position made us impreg-
nable. That Is why our people now
think we can go to war and not fight.
Conspicuous by Their Absence.
In each house Of congress a gallery
Is set apart for the diplomatic corps.
During the last congress-in fact, since
the war began-the diplomats have
been conspicuous by their absence. al
though during that time there has been
more discussion of interest to foreign
governments than las occurred for a
decade.
or course Ii a be easily understood
that the representatives OF Germany,
Austria aud Turkey on one side and
those of England, France, Russia, Italy.
Japan and other entente nations have
taken great precautions not to meet
one another. They have taken no
chances OF such a contretemps I'm one
of the galleries OF the United States
congress.
One Regular Visitor.
There Is n regular occupant of the
diplomatic gallery when anything of
Importance is on the cards. That Is
John Barrett, director Of the bureau of
American republics. With the excep-
ton of Mexico. Barrett's union is at
peace. Even Mexico, in spite of all
that has happened, is at peace with
the United States.
While Mr.. Barrett Is a citizen of the
United States, be Is the representative
of t~wenty-one American republics, ow-
Ing as much allegiance to one as the
other.
Can Call Him Harry New.
There Is just one reason why | am
sorry to see you here" remarked an
old time friend of the junior senator
from Indiana. Il must not longer call
you Harry New, but senator"
Don't you get a wrong idea" replied
the Indiana senator. II am Harry
New to all those friends of the past.
This job hasn't swelled my head. /
have proper regard for the position OF
senator, but also a regard for all the
fellows who have known me as Harry
New. To them / am still Harry New"
The Political Wonder State.
Ohio continues to be the political
wonder state. Some one just recently
called attention to the fact that the
delegation In the present house con.
sisted OF nine Republicans and thir
e Democrats.
why, we loot three seats in Ohio
Indignantly remarked a Republican
If we'd held those seats there never
would have been any question OF Re
publican control of the house. That
phase Of the result In Ohio last fall
just struck me when I was doing some
figuring. Ohio cost us the house as
well the presidency"