The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-05-22
Assistant SeCretaryOt Navy Fa-
vOrS Sending Men TO France.
NOTHING AS YET BUT WORDS
General Barnett, Commandant of the
Marine Corps, Said TO Have 5000 Men
Ready and Anxious to Be the First to
Fiaht-Drsstlo Espionage Measures
Necessary In Civil War.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

= ~ ~ ~ 18J N%H
do things Is not confined to Theodore,
eX-president. We find it In Franklin
d., assistant secretary Of the navy. 1t
vas at a reception given by the Navy
league to the naval officers OF the Brit
ish mission, when several speeches
were made, hat the Roosevelt charac-
ter cropped out. Toward the close OF
the evening Colonel Thompson, the
chairman, espied Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt away up in the first balcony
and called upon him for a few remarks.
AS he came forward the audience saw
a tall, handsome, soidierly looking man
with movements Of an athlete.
Wanted Action.
II think the time has come for ac-
tion," said Mr.. Roosevelt, facing the
audience. 80 far we have given the
British and French missions nothing
but words and again more words. i
I'm In favor Of giving them soldiers and
marines"
1t has been known that General Bar
nett, commandant Of the marine corps,
is anxious to lead the first force into
France. Mr.. Roosevelt says that 5000
marines are ready to 10 and that from
$4,000 to 10000 regular soldiers might
be sent ut once.
The whole address OF Mr.. Roosevelt
breathed an ardent desire for the Unit
ed States to get into action at the ear
lest possible moment. Nearly six weeks
have elapsed since war was declared
he said, and we have done nothing"
A Curious Book.
Congressman Wood OF Indiana al
luded to a curious book which was
published soon after the civil war and
which gave In considerable detail eX-
amples of the invasion Of the rights OF
citizens who were suspected Of having
sympathies with the Confederacy. ]
never heard any one allude TO ii before
until Wood mentioned 1t I'm the discus
sion of the espionage bill to show that
severe measures were necessary dur
ing the civil war to curb the activities
of those In sympathy with the south
ern states.
Fortunately there is not much sym
/ HhlbJ VIA AA1 al Va Rit ~
States Mt the present time, and it Is
not likely such as exists will be mani
tested to any such degree rs happen
ed during the civil war days.
Politics Injected.
As far as possible efforts have been
made to keep politics out Of legislation,
and, although there have been divi-
sions IN both the house and senate ON
important features Of various bills,
there have been no divisions along
party lines. In one OF the discussions.
however, Senator La Toilette of Wis
consin injected IA political phase when
he said hat much Of the legislation
that had been enacted would tend TO
prevent the success Of the admins
tration In future political campaigns.
Senator La Toilette has not been In
agreement with the administration on
many matters that have come up In
congress since war talk began.
Advance Of Prohibition.
Although no effort is being made to
secure the adoption OF a constitutional
amendment for prohibition at this SEES
sion OF congress because the decree
has gone forth that only legislation
necessary to carry on the war Is to be
enacted, 1T is observed that the pro-
hibitionists are active in securing
amendments to different bills which
will advance their cause. The army
CONSUMPTION bill contains a rather
drastic provision against liquor, and
the Cummins amendment In the espion-
age bill Is designed TO strike a harder
blow at the liquor interests than any
thing that has yet passed congress.
Paying the Price.
Information received In Washington
is to the effect that the people have be
gun to be appalled, at the rising tide OF
prices without any corresponding In
crease In the earning power of the PEG
pie. In ordinary times high prices
mean prosperity for at least a portion
OF the people. In wartimes high prices
seem to mean n severe tax on business,
the possible closing Of factories and
destruction of small business concerns
and throwing a multitude out of EN-
ployment.
Hiram johnson Heard.
1t is not often that a new senator
receives such attention as was given to
Senator Johnson of California. The
former governor of the Golden State
came to Washington with a reputation
already made. His activities at home,
his participation In the Republican on
vention of 1912 and the fact that he
had been on the Progressive ticket with
Roosevelt had made him a national
character.
In his first speech in the senate, op-
posing the censorship provision, he sus-
tanned the reputation he had previously
made and established himself as IN of
tha pOwarfu1 dahatars I'm a hody wharo