The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-12-04

our duty-the war could not have been
won or the gallant men who fought it
given their opportunity to win 1t other
wise; but for many a long day we
shall think ourselves "accursed we
were not there and hold our manhood
cheap while any speaks that fought"
with these at st. Mihiel or Thierry.
n battle will go with these fortu-
nate men to their graves, and each will
have his favorite memory. "Old men
forget, yet all shall be forgot, but he'll
remember with advantages what feats
he did that day"
Germans Beaten Back.
What we all thank God for with
deepest gratitude is that our men went
in force into the line of battle just at
the critical moment when the whole
fate OF the world seemed to hang in
the balance, and threw their fresh
strength into the ranks of freedom in
time to turn the whole tide and sweep
of the fateful struggle-turn it once
for all, so that henceforth 1t was back,
back, back for their enemies, always
back, again forward. After that
1t was only a scant four months before
the commanders of the Contra EN-
pires knew themselves beaten; and
ton.
And through 1t all how fine the
spirit of the nation was. What unity
of purpose, what untiring zeal; what
elevation of purpose ran through all
its splendid display of strength, its un-
firing accomplishment. | have said
hat those of us who stayed at home to
do the work Of organization and sup
ply will always wish that we had been
with the men whom we sustained by
our labor; but we can never be
ashamed.
Must Steady Business.
For the steadying and facilitation Of
our own domestic business readjust-
ment nothing is more important than
the immediate determination Of the
taxes that are to be levied for 1918,
1919 and 1920. AS much of the burden
of taxation must be lifted from bust
ness as sound methods Of financing the
government will permit, and those who
conduct the great essential industries
of the country must be told as exactly
as possible what obligations to the
government they will be expected to
meet in the years Immediately ahead
OF them. 1t will be of serious conse-
Quence to the country to delay all un-
certainties In this matter a single day
longer han the right processes of de-
bate justify. 1t is idle to talk of suc
cessful and confident business recon
struction before those uncertainties
are resolved.
II the war had continued 1t would
have been necessary to raise at least
IS 5000, 000, 900 by taxation payable In
the year 1919; but the war has ended
and / agree with the secretary Of the
treasury that 1t will be safe to reduce
the amount to $4,000, 900 900. An i'm
mediate rapid decline in the expenses
OF the government Is not to be looked
for. Contracts made for war supplies
will, indeed, be rapidly cancelled and
%liquidated, but their immediate liqui
dation will make heavy drains on the
treasury for the months just ahead OF
us.
Expenses still High.
The maintenance OF our forces or
J the other side of the sea Is still neces
sary. A considerable proportion oil
those forces must remain in Europe
during the period of occupation, and
those which are brought home will be
transported and demobilized at heavy
expense for months to come. The in
, terest on our war debt must Of course
be paid and provision made for thu
retirement of the obligations Of the
government which represents 1t. Blu
these demands will OF course fall mucf
2 below what a continuation of militar,
' operations would have entailed ant
Sc, 600, 600, 900 should suffice to supply
sound foundation for the fnancia
operations of the year.
I entirely concur with the secretar.
of the treasury in recommending tina