The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-05-28

There is no donger of deceit now. An
intense and pitiless light beats upon
every man and every action in this
tragic plot of war that i'd now upon
the stage. If lobbyists hurry to
Washington to attempt to turn what
you do in the matter of taxation to
their protection or advantage the light
will beat also upon them.
There is abundant fuel for the light
in the records of the treasury with
regard to profits of every sort The
profiteering that cannot be got at by
the restraints of consequences and
love of country can be got at by tax
alton. There is such profiteering now
and the information III regard to it is
available and indsptuable.
Asks Share in Responsibility.
am advising you to act upon this
matter of taxation now, gentlemen,
not because | do not know that you
can see and interpret the facts and
the duty they impose just as well and
with as clear a perception of the OBJ
legations involved as l can, but be-
cause there is certain solemn salts
faction in sharing with you the reSpon-
sibilities of such time. The world
never stood in such case before. Men
never before had so clear or so mov-
ing vision of duty. / know that
you will begrude the work to be done
here by us no more than the men be-
grudge us theirs who lie in the
trenches and sally forth to their DEATH
There Is a stimulating comradeship
knitting us together.
And this task to which invite your
immediate consideration will be per-
formed under favorable influences il
we will look to whas the country is
thinking and expecting aud care moth
ing at all for what is being said and
believed in the lobbies of Washington
hotels, where the atmosphere seems
to make it possible to believe what is
believed nowhere else.
Have you not felt the spirit of the
nation rise and its thought become a
single and common thought since
these eventful days came III which we
have been sending our boys to the
other side? | think you must read
that thought, as | do, to mean this,
that the people of this country are
not only united in the resolute pur-
pose to win this war, but are ready
and willing to bear any burden and
undergo any sacrifice that it may be
necessary for them to bear in order
to win it, We need not be afraid to
tax them il we lay taxes justly. They
know that the war must be paid for
and that it is they who must pay for
| 1t and IL the burden Is justly distriD-
uted and the sacrifice made a common
| sacrifice from which none escapes who
| can bear 1t at all, they will carry IL
| cheerfully and with sort or solemn
pride.
/ have always been proud to be an
| American, and was never more proud
| than now, when all that we have said
and all that we have foresean about
| our people is coming true. The grea,
| days have come when the only thing
that they ask for or admire is duty
greatly and adequately done; when
| the only wish for America is that
she may share freedom she enjoys;
| when a great, compelling sympathy
swells up In their hearts for men ev
/ erywhere who suffer and are op
| pressed and when they see at last
the high uses for which their wealth
! has been piled up and their mighty
power accumulated and, counting
neither blood nor treasure now thai
the final day of opportunity has come
rejoice to spend and to be spen
through a long night Of suffering anc
terror In order that they and mer
everywhere may see the dawn OF {
/ day of righteousness and justice ant
i peace Shall we grow weary whel
they bid us act?