The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-02-23
STATE, WAR AND NAVY BUILD
INGS CLOSED TO THOSE WHO
HAVE NO PASSES.
WHITE HOUSE IS PROTECTED
Offers Of Service in Any Capacity
Come From All over the Country
Political Pressure for Commissions
Is Pleasantly Absent.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

tee of the United States senate; Sena-
tor Benjamin +. Tillman, chairman of
the committee on naval affairs, and
Gen. William Crozier. chief of ord
nance Of the United States army, were
forbidden admission TO the state, war
and navy building by the sentries on
guard because they did not have with
them the passes necessary for admis-
sion.
This goes to show how in these days
| of national crises Washington is
guarding its treasury boxes of infor-
nation. So far as Washington Is con-
cerned, ii is still case of watchful
waiting, but Waiting has Work us a
companion, and Il. vigorous go-ahead
person the companion is.
Washington is on guard and is
guarded. No one sees Il trace OF eX-
element here, but the unseen exists
1t is serious capital today. Even
the few ordinarily fiippant ones in
congress seem to have felt the touch
of the subduing hand.
Today one needs what is equivalent
to military pass to secure entrance
TO the state, war and navy building.
Passes to the White House offices also
have been issued to persons who have
n right to receive them. There is more
than a suggestion of war days in the
vicinity of every government building.
Inside the armed service buildings one
is in the presence of war.
Only one gate to the White House
grounds remains open. AT every
closed entrance and along the iron
rail fences which separate the grounds
from the street, policemen are sta
toned. The doors to all the public
buildings are guarded. 1t is a repro
duced picture of the days just prior
and during the Spanish war.
CONSUMPTION Might Be Necessary.
n chapter of patriotism Is being
written into the history of the war
and navy departments today From all
over the country are coming offers of
service in any capacity, helpful to a
country in need. Retired army and
navy officers in their old age are re-
questing that they may be allowed to
shall come. All kinds of industrial
organizations are offering assistance
Individuals, men and women, are ask
ing what they can do to help.
1t might appear from the immense
number of offers of service which are
being received that ii would not be q
difficulty thing for the United States
/ nf fn $50 fnlxl N
army Of 100000 men by the volunteer
plan, but even with all the surface in
dications that such an army at once
could be called to the instruction
camps, the officials fear that it will
be hard to get such a number of phys
ically fit men without resorting to con-
scription.
One of the striking things about the
offers of service which have been re-
ceived at headquarters in Washington
is that there is nothing like the po-
litical pressure being exerted that
there was in Civil war and Spanish
war days to secure u commission as q
ranking officer for this man or that
man without regard to his lack of mil
/
seems to have taught each aspiring
gentleman that influence i'm his ward
I without an hours training does not
entirely fit him to command men on
the field of battle.
If the preaching of preparation has
had its checking effect on the poll
ticians aud political heelers who other
/ d; hu trrhf
commands, it may not have been en-
tirely in vain.
Planning for Censorship.
Newspaper correspondents In the
city of Washington have taken sharp
note of the possible censorship
conditions which are to prevail
If we shall have war with Germany
or for that matter with any other for
eign power. The authorities already
have been approached by the standing
committee of press correspondents
which has charge of press gallery mat
tiers, and plan will be adopted which
the newspaper men hope will meet
their desires while in every way safe
guarding the government.
IHtTe are III tAiSltliNt III the WIFI
department plans formulated over two
years ago and which were intended TO
govern correspondence sent from the
field or from battleships, or from the
| city of Washington, in case war was
declared with Mexico. 1t Is under
stood that the war department had
laid down rules so drastic as virtually
to destroy the usefulness of the work
of a correspondent in the field or in
the capital.
1t will be the endeavor of the corps
of Washington correspondence to Sc
cure an amelioration of the conditions
laid down In the existing plan, and co.
operation will be promised, so far as
| the standing committee of correspond
ents has authority, in the name of ev-
cry correspondent who today is admit