The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1920-02-19

Chaplain Guy P. Squires appeared
at the high school auditorium last
evening in the interest of General
| Leonard Wood, republican candidate
for president
The only disappointing thing about
the meeting was the small size of the
audience. Not many got out to hear
the splendid speech made by the elo-
quent chaplain. There was sprink-
| ling of ex-service men among the au-
ditors, also several ladies, but on the
whole there seemed to be total lack
of enthusiastic interest.
The speaker went quickly over a
few "reminiscences of experiences on
the fighting front, reciting harrow
ing scenes of tragedy and pathos. In
presenting General Woods name he
mentioned some of the more salient
problems and International complica-
tiOns growing out of the great war
now up for solution in reconstruction
times. He deems it unwise to sad
die on this country the burden of try
ing to settle the various disputes now
convulsing Europe when we do not
seem to be able to properly handle
the lesser problem involved in the
Mexican situation.
The Wood campaign, according to
the chaplain. is based on treaty res
ervations of limited scope; reserva-
tions that give security to our ma
tional dignity and honor; reserva-
tions that support the integrity of
the Monroe doctrine and at the same
time leave to us the matter of de-
Gliding whether we wish to go to war
or not.
All the world knows our nck of
preparation at the time the messiah
war hordes threw their coils Mound
the allied armies in Belgium and
northern France. Chaplain Squires
tdeplored our unreadiness for the
great event and threw the blame on
the war department and the radical
elements that were then fomenting
opposition and discomfort. He said
that those nations would be wise If
| well prepared when the next war
comes. He is not of the opinion that
all war is over, simply because we
have not yet transcribed the barbaric
age.
anarchist, the communist, the radi-
cal, the propogandist, the 1. w. w.
and all types of mal-contents and ad-
vocates of sabotage who form a
massed force, constituting a deadly
menace to civilization and particular
ly to our national life, was men
toned and penalty suggested. Men
of the type of Big Bill Haywood and
Victor Berger came in last evening.
for bitter denunciation. They were
branded as criminals whose ultimate
objects are the destruction of gov
ernment, the ownership of all the ma
tion's means of production, resources
and public utilities. The great plot
of those who sign the red cards is the
establishment of new political or
der destructive of present day ideals
What is needed now, the speaker
pointed out, was a great man of ener-
getic action at the head of our gov
ernment, man with strong hand
and able to curb radicals and prof
iteers alike, a man of all the people,
not alone for the farmer, for the la
borer or any other particular class.
General Leonard Wood was held up
as the ideal for these tempestuous
times. He was cited as soldier-civi-
liam who loves his country and who
handled some of it's larger RESPONSE
bilities with honor and dispatch. His
administrative jobs in Cuba and the
Philippines add luster to his name.
The chaplain stated that although
General Wood bore the uniform and
served as soldier for 35 years, he al
ways subordinated the military to the
civil-he is no militarist. He has the
diplomatic career of constructive
statesman.
The country in general is quite ia
miliar with Gen. Woods plan for or
ganizing officers training camps
throughout the country to supply at
once q crying need in the American
fighting forces. The speaker re-
viewed this work and spoke of the
organizer as the brains of the army.
| Wilson kept us out Of war" That
was one-time slogan. Yes. we were
told he kept two of us out Of war
Wood and Roosevelt, the latter by
being repressed and the former by
being shifted to the western depart
ment at San Francisco. but neither
was a quitter. The latter gave his
sons in the worthy cause of democ-
racy. The present administration was
roundly censured for its utter lack
OF appreciation OF the careers OF those
two distinguished leaders and for the
petty politics that shunted them to
one side IN the great crisis.
Chaplain SQuires welcomed women
into politics and entertained the hope
that they will assist in cleaning our
political house. He would rather
f