The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-08-02
DEMAND SPEED IN
EQU|PPINC ARMY
SIOwn0ss In Passing Food Con-
troll Bill Cited by Critics.
AVIATION MEASURE RUSHED
Delay In Carrying Our Plans 10 kot
Laid on Men In Charge Now, but
Called Fault Of Those Who Said
Four Years Ago That We Would
Never Need q Large Army.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Never Need q Large Army.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Aug. z. - Especial. -
More speed Is demanded. Congress 10
criticised because Ii has not acted
with sufficient celebrity. However, on
gress can excuse itself, as 1t has de-
only one bin, the food control
bill, that Ii an urgent necessity. The
aviation bill with Its 500, 100000 was
In almost record time. The de
lays in other measures have not been
great.
Now there is a demand that o
speed be shown I'm organizing an army
and equipping 1t and putting Il In the
field. 1t is impossible to- place the
blame for failure 10 act In this matter,
because the war department has moved
as fast as 1t could under the circum-
stances. The blame for the delay rests
with those who did not begin three or
four years ago and prepare for raising
an army. They said we never would
need an army. and the present stag
nation IL the result.
There Are Some Faults.
A man who has been In the military
service and is now In congress points
out a few faults which, he says, are
natural because the whole character
OF warfare has been changed. The gen
eral staff has cams and reams OF plans
FpV u urIffr.p In aarnlnG aud oqafnru and
for repelling invasions of the United
States. Possibly they have some plans
for lighting In Europe. Ii appears that
there has been a lack OF plans OF or
ganization for getting a million men
into the army. Ii would seem that
the paper work for such an army
should have been prepared and ready
for use when the time came. Such
plans would have been Of much more
use than the matter stacked up In the
wal college.
An Unfortunate Idea.
There has been built up In the United
States a sophistry In regard to the
present wal which 1t would be well TO
dispel SO that the people OF this u
try win have a full understanding OF
the situation. 1t is to the effect that
the German people are not thoroughly
aroused and engaged In the present
war. 1t would seem to be only neces-
sary to read the reports OF the treat
ment of the prisoners In Germany, the
i'll feeling which has been displayed
toward the allies. particularly England,
TO show that all of the German people
are In deadly earnest I'm the great war.
More than that, our people had ample
opportunity for observation during the
time we were standing al a neutral
An OF the German people In this coun
try were on the side of Germany. II
Is to be presumed that the German
people are united at the present mo
ment.
Talk Of Peace.
There is now and will continue to be
much talk OF peace, and II Is observed
whenever there Is a serious discussion
Of that subject the question hobs up
as to whether we are going to make
peace with the present German gov
eminent or with some new government
that is expected to be formed In Ger
many. Answers to inquiries of this
kind fail to develop the idea which has
been promulgated to the effect that the
German people are not I'm this war.
The sooner u people get over the
idea that we are not fighting Germany
as a whole the better Ii will be for us,
and 1t may bring us to a realization
that this war is going to go on for some
time.
VIII Have q Hard Time.
Although there is a majority In con-
gress for the river and harbor bill
there Ii always such a majority-it Is
doubtful whether the measure can be
passed. 1t is claimed to be a war
measure, but as such does not appeal
to the war spirit OF as many people as
have the other measures which have
been put through. The probabilities
are that this bill will be displaced from
time to time to make room for other
bills considered more important.
emlth's Little Bomb.
Congressman Smith Of Idaho threw
a little bomb into the house the other
day. but 1t created no impression out
side Of the medical profession. Smith
introduced a bill which allowed osteo-
paths to enter the navy as doctors- 1t
Is safe to predict that this bill win not
get very far, because the medical pro
fession will be up in arms against 1t,
aud the doctors are rather a powerful
factor when they get started.
win the War"
Senator Frelinghuysen Of New Jer-
sey uttered a slogan In a speech ON the
food bill. He said II was not q perfect
bill and congress would not pass per-
feet legislation. But let NE win the
war; he said. "Do not let us spend
so much time picking flaws In bills.