The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-07-12
Serious Side Of War Not Yet
Realized by American Troops.
READY FOR FIGHT OR FROLIC
When Casualties Reports Begin to
Come In We Shall Probably Have a
Different Vlew-War Measures For
Control of Prices Likely TO Have
Lasting Effect.


AVht 0aA1 49, L1i'1A0t |
Two notable characteristics were shown
In the arrival of the American troops I'm
France. They were ready for a fight
or a frolic. OF course the frolic came
first. Their first idea was To have a
good time, to enjoy themselves. The
idea seems to have prevailed to some
extent that they were on a sort Of
picnic.
81 have a recollection of four wars"
remarked a veteran who was a boy IN
the Mexican war, "and I'm each Of the
four our boys have gone In as II II
were a picnic. They don't know how
serious 1t is until they get IN deeper"
The reports OF characteristic light
heartedness of American troops In
Europe Is best, for 1t may be followed
later by sadder news.
May as Well Prepare.
Only those who have been In war
countries have any real idea of the
other side of the picture. In a war
country you see many OF the women
going about In mourning. They have
lost relatives in the war. You see wo-
men and children standing about the
bulletin boards reading the casualty
lists that are telegraphed day by day.
There are sad days ahead for those
who have relatives In the war service.
As oon as reports of casualties begin
to arrive we win know that we are I'm
the var and realize that 1t is a serious
undertaking.
Will IL Be temporary
As one drastic bin after another
passes giving the president more power
than il accorded to emperors and kings
the statement is made hat they are
wal measures, temporary In character,
and that they will cease TO be effective
when the war In over. But Is that go
ing to be truef Suppose 1t Is found
that certain measures work satisfac-
torily. Suppose 1t is found that the
food control bill is what the people
want. Ever since 1910 the people OF
this country have been complaining OF
the high cost of living, and II the food
control bin works a miracle and re-
duces the high cost Of living during
wartimes the people will be loath to
see 1t disappear when the wal ends
and the old regime OF high prices Ia re-
stored.
Nsedn't Be Envlous.
While envy is scarcely the word, II Is
q fact that many persons rather re
GREETED that they could not have been a
part OF the first expedition In the great
war. This was the feeling among army
and navy officers and soldiers and
sailors. But they need not despair.
There will be room enough for all be-
fore 1t ends. There will be enough
lighting for all Americans who want to
fight. In fact, 1t looks as IL there
would be enough lighting for all Amerf-
ans who a be equipped for fighting.
If the war lasts as long as many pre-
dict, there will DO fighting for all who
can be sent over from this country.
ait FixxIsd Out"
Senator Reed of Missouri, who has
been ''in the opposition to a great ex-
tent for several weeks, spoke about the
failure which followed sending boy
scouts TO Virginia and Maryland to
gather crops. You have read about
those boy scouts he said. Poor lit
tie fellows gallant, brave, splendid lit
tie fellows-they have all had to come
home. The thing flzzled out, just as
all attempts TO run farms In the coun
try by gentlemen In swivel chairs prove
failures"
Want . Keepsake.
Senator Hardwick of Georgia Is one
of the senators who still believe In the
constitution and are making heroic eff
forts to save it. He does not speak as
long or as often as Senator Reed, but
he Is just as earnest as the Missouri
senator In his efforts to save the sacred
instrument from annihilation.
lit is time to call a halt" said Hard
wick, discussing the food bill, land see
IL we cannot find one or two little lib
critics Of the people that are not yet
necessary to surrender on account of
the war In Europe"
AS a keepsake" remarked Senator
Gore Of Oklahoma.
Let us nave Ut iedSC one meIuenIO,
continued Hardwick, "as a keepsake
as a remembrance Of what our fathers
left to the people, even If we cannot
transmit them to our children"
Mann's Foresight.
For more than four years, If not
longer, Minority Leader Mann ha4
been making IN effort to increase the
aircraft efficiency Of both the army ant
navy. In the debates on various mill
tary bills he tried to double and treble
the appropriations for aviation equip
ment. 1t lis a credit to his foresight
that 1t now seems that the most eff
fective weapons or war machines
which the Americans a use are air
planes and that such machines, prop
erly handled. will do much to end tn
war. II Jim Mann could have had hi
way our army and navy would hav'
had q score of such machines wher,
they have M at present.