New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-08

DENVER, Aug. 3.-Serenely calm ana
Immediately white, Colorsdo's domed
and pillared Capitol looks down upon
Denver. To the west Is the titanic
heap Of the Continental range, to the
east and north fat country, as peace
full In aspec. as the mythical land OF
the Golden Age. Tourists from far and
near climb the sun-bathed Capitol
steps. talking the small talk OF travel
,srs-from upper berths to cold chops.
No war here.
But inside the stately pile Governor
Gunter sits in conference with his war
council, and the Legislature Is In spe-
cial session. planning to raise and
snend two or three millions for public
defence.
Here we are In mid-continent No
hostile shot has reached our shores. the
national government is spending bill
ions for war as 1t used to spend cents
for peace-and yet state must also
spend for war. Just so. This Is not
only a war Of the Federal government
and the people as national citizens; 1t
4, also a war Of the states and the
people as state citizens. Not even in
the stress Of war does the Federal
nature Of the nation diminish.
Guard Marches Away
The Colorado National Guard marches
away to war. The state made It; the
nation takes It. The home troops gone,
some body Of home defenders must be
created to take their place-whether
home guards or constabulary. The Fed
eral government undertakes TO guard,
even for general war purposes, only
the lines Of transportation and COM
munication and the means OF produc-
ton that are of primary importance.
The states must do the rest. and yet
their soldiers are gone.
Thon there are all the activities OF
the extra official war council and ways
and means committee-bodies appointed
bv the Governor without legislative au-
thority. but whose creation was neces-
sary to meet the emergency. Here as
elsewhere throughout the nation the
big men who constitute these state war
councils give their services without
nav. even as do the members OF the
national advisory and cooperative coun-
ellis and committees and commissions.
Their work is not nominal, either. The
Colorado council meets almost daily at
$3.50 in the morning. and is often in
session the major part of the day. Nor
is It a session Of talk. On the con-
trary. it Is a session Of decision.
Colorado's problems and duties aris'
ing from the war are substantially
the same as those Of other states. but,
with attention mainly centred on
Washington, the people do not realize
what a great portion Of the common
burden of war the state governments
are carrying. The great battle OF the
interior Is being fought more in Dem
vs- g. Paul and Vicksburg than in
Washington.
Too Much for President
Thank God. everything does not
have to be passed up to the President!
Imagine the chaos now II we were
,tron9lv centralized democracy in
stead OF a federation penetrated with
national power lines Everything that
centre, in Washington centres In \
poor, bedevilled President, whether 1t
be a roll collar or standing collar foe
the uniforms or steel ships instead
q, wooden ships for the national mer-
chant marine.
The big talk about food conserva-
ton and food production and stimula-
ton and control comes from Washing
ton. The big work is being done oy
the state governments. The typewrit-
ers and multigraphs and printing
nre,se, are very busy at Washington.
The telephone and the telegraph and
the automobile are very busy around
state headquarters.
"Writs a letter." says Washington
"Do it," says Colorado.