The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-04-30
Everybody Intensely Interested,
but Excitement Is Lacking.
PARTIES PULL TOGETHER
Politics RELOCATED TO Rear and Parti-
sanship Mo Longer a Factor-There
Will Be Plenty Of Time After the
Mar For Democrats and Republicans
TO Lock Horns.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, April 2S.-LSpeciall-
War talk-discussion Of all the phases
Of the great undertaking upon which
this nation has entered fills every
niche and Granny of the national capi
tai life. We are not war mad but
everybody is vitality interested IN the
war. Here is the center and circum
ference of wal affairs. Here war poll
cies are made, and here war legislation
must be enacted.
vas reading a few nights ago notes
by John Hay, one OF the secretaries
OF President Lincoln, made at the be
ginning OF the civil war. Those were
days of great excitement. of intense
feeling. OF utmost uncertainty. Then
the nation was dividing against itself.
Interest, But Not Excitement.
In the present emergency there is in
tense interest. but no excitement
There is a deep feeling OF responsible
ty resting upon every MAI connected
with the government. There are no
real divisions In sentiment: there may
be disagreements as to policies.
Criticisms there may be Of certain
policies. There are disagreements as
to methods, but there is nothing said
or done which sayors OF excitement
nor which betrays aught but the
strongest desire upon the part Of every
body to do that which Is best for the
people and for the nation.
1t is recognized that this Is Il time of
peril. Ii is known that ii is no such
affair as tie Spanish war, the outcome
of which was foreseen from the be
ginning.
No Party Divisions.
Politics for the time have been rele.
gated to a rear position, although par
ty lines and party allegiance are still
recognized as IL part of our system of
government. P~artisanship has ceased
to he "A factor. although there Is an
aisle in both houses of congress which
divides men on party lines. Party
managers are recognized. We still see
IA majority and a minority. but when
votes are taken on important matters
it has been observed that the men Of
both sides vote together and solidly
support the government.
1t Will be time enough for politics
when the end is achieved. In all couu
tries, more particularly in England. 1t
has beer found that party divisions
must be left to another time. Here it
is apparent that party lines will not
be allowed TO interfere with patriotism
Fightin' EN- Over.
There are few veterans Of the civil
war ia the house. but the descendants
Of men who participated in that wa
are eighth 'em over" Congressman
Garner of Texas says that frequently
in the cloakroom he has TO pun Nir
ginia aud North Carolina men apart
because they dispute SO hotly as t.
whether the troops of their respective
states were the best fighters in the
ciyil war.
Garner tells this to illustrate the fact
that there Is n certain pride In state
and home organizations; that men are
proud of fighting as Texans or New
Workers who would not care about
service In federal numbered regiments
without any local or state sentiment
behind them.
CONSUMPTION Inequality.
Senator Thomas of Colorado finds
fault with conscription on account OF
inequalities. Under the bill as drawn
he said, IA man who is a Quaker and
does not believe In war can escape
service. A man who is not Il Quaker
and who does not believe in war Is
taken. If a man is moral he is subject
to service. If he is immoral he can
escape. How are you going to get the
slackers under such conditionsf'
Constitutional Legislation.
I'VE ought to try to pass constitu.
tional legislation" remarked Senator
Brandegee OF Connecticut in the sen
ate one day, so that our laws will
not have to be dragged through the
courts for years and finally declared
void by the supreme court"
New Senators Talk.
There is no longer any necessity fol
new senators to wait for months be
fore taking part In the debates in con.
gress. Any member may speak when
he feels like ii. The senate is not
what it used TO be. The senate heard
: Watson Of Indiana and Kirby OF
: Arkansas talk during the last session
when they were new men. Kellogg OF
Minnesota, Johnson Of California and
: Frelinghuysen of New Jersey have
: spoken in this session when they had
something TO say.
A War Session.
So far as they can make 1T, this is to
| be Il war session of congress. Senators
, and representatives do not want 10 en-
3 ,ns J~.s.r,t;Aa xIsa1. Jr,, ,,at .,A.o rem