The Clio messenger., 1918-09-20
NATION PUTS WAR
AHEAD OF POLITICS
so REPORTS PROMINENT REPuB,
LicAN WHO HAS BEEN TOUR
ING THE COUNTRY.
ALL ATE BACKING PRESIDENT
Casualty Lists Show II Is Easier to
Kill or Wound American Soldiers
Than to Capture Them-Army Life
Good for the Lads.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Observation-Disclosures after all.
when President Wilson remarked that
politics is adjourned" he was stating
fact ihut existed throughout the
country IN spite of everything that the
politicians are trying TO do. A Re-
publican of prominence who has been
member of the national committee
recently returned from trip through
out the country extending from Wash
ington to California.
The strangest thing that OBJ
served" he remarked upon his arrival
IN Washington, ''is the fact that l
found no one who would talk politics.
On the other hand. everybody was for
the war and earnestly determined TO
support the administration In the
prosecution Of the war. AS nearly as
could see, the country is behind Pres
ident Wilson. and although l am
stanch Republican, | firmly believe
that If an election for president were
| to take place tomorrow, President Will
being third term. So far as ] OBJ
served the people are i'm deadly ear
nest for this war and In support Of the
administration which is prosecuting
It."
The debates in congress on the
draft extension bill showed conclusive
| ly that a great many senators and
representatives did not believe that
sufficient number of men for army
service had been procured between the
ages Of 21 and 81. Senator Pomerene
of Ohio made very strong speech In
which he criticized the failure of the
"combing process" and he remarked
that there were too many men placed
! i'm deferred classification. TOO many
young married men have been allowed
TO escape military service" said the
Ohio senator. at Is ridiculous to say
that only such small proportion OF
men between the ages OF Il and 81
were found available for military
duty" Senator Pomerene was firmly of
the opinion that 1t was unnecessary to
take boys of IS and 10 when so many
well-to-do men had been placed in de-
ferred classes under the previous
draft.
A comparison of the totals men,
toned In casualty lists and those
listed as prisoners of war in Ger
many shows that II is easier for the
Huns to kill or wound American sol
diers than II is to capture them. Nc
doubt the majority Of the few Ameri-
cans now in German prison camps
were temporarily disabled in some way
before they could be captured. 1t Is
not an American trait to cry "kam
erad," but rather to keep on fighting
until death or uncOnsciOusnesS steps
until death or unconsciousness steps In
Considerable comment was aroused
in the house when Congressman John
son of Washington exhibited a 1OS
pound page In soldiers outfit as ar
argument that boys of IS are toe
young to be drafted. One amusing ref
erence to JohnsOn's action was made
by Congressman Langley Of Kentucky
~ do not believe" said Langley, THAT
there is q single member of this body
with the possible exception of Uncle
Joe Cannon. who could not Outpoin
that boy in any physical contest, and
am not so sure but that even Uncle
Joe might come out cf II the master.
But on the other hand. as one mem
her put 1t, there are other eighteen
year-old boys that could outrun anc
outjump any man In the house an(
Outright any two of them.
When the report Of the senate sub
committee to investigate aircraft pro
duction was ready for presentation |
was brought up by Senator Thomas o
Colorado, chairman of the subcommit
: tee. In presenting the report he salt
that the committee on military affair
had instructed him to have 1t read, 81
the secretary of the senate begal
reading. Before very long, however
the Colorado senasor interrupted: IL
view of the fact that the reading o
this report does not seem to comInan,
the presence of the senate, l ask tha
It's further reading be dispensed with.
That report was too important for sen
ators to listen to it, They wanted t
get copy and read it.
Never a congressman or cOngression
al party finishes trip through tn
war area without at least one marrow
escape from death Stories that com
back from time to time assert tha
Senator Blank or Congressman Das
has barely missed being exterminate
In an mir raid or by an enemy shell
Doubtless when the adventurous one
come back to this countrJ they vii
nlso be subjected TO many sarcasti
remarks from their colleagues regard
ing their ability 10 withstand gas a'
,ncks because OF experience wit
hem before in senate or mousse.