Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-02-06
CONTROL OF SPIES
IS GREAT PROBLEM
SECURITY MAY YET DEMAND EX-
cLUSIoN OF ALL GERMANS
FROM PLACES OF TRUST.
ABOUT OIL LEASING BILL
Senators Strangely Divided in Their
Views on the decentralization of
Several More Women to Congress Is
Predicted.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Neutrality-suspicious. how TO reach the
disloyal element in this country which
is using every means to hamper the
government is one of the questions
puzzling the officials. IL has been
suggested that every person of German
birth or parentage should be excluded
from places of trust and responsible
ity, and furthermore that none such
should be employed in plants making
food, medicines, munitions and other
supplies for the army and navy. One
objection TO such a drastic move is
that IT would hit many people whose
loyalty is unquestioned though they
are Germans by birth. But in great
crisis the personal element must be
suboTdinated to the general good and
If the officials here determine that Sc
curity demands more rigid exclusion OF
German nationalities from positions
where they might do harm, no doubt
such steps will be taken.
AS the oil leasing bill had only five
majority when it passed the senate evil
IDENTIFY the measure was far from salts
factory. Several senators said they
voted for Il with great reluctance. But
the curious fact in relation TO the bill
Is the way the senate divided. There
were no party lines, no sectional lines
and no state lines. Men from the same
state voted on opposite sides; men who
naturally would have the same inter
ests separated on this vote. And most
surprising thing of all was the differ
ing views of men from the West. the
section most Interested in the legisla-
ton. They were all split up.
"Follow Your Leader"
Much legislation is enacted by the
follow your leader" method because
men engaged on important committee
work cannot attend the sessions of the
senate or house, while others prefer
TO work in their rooms rather than lis
ten to the debates. AS a consequence
when vote is taken senators and rep
resentatives enter the hall. seek their
particular teader and ask him how to
vote. In all probability many votes
would be changed if the men voting
could listen to all the arguments pro
and con and understood all the ques-
tons involved in the legislation. The
men best qualified TO vote are those
who have little important committee
work and take time TO listen to the
discussions I'm congress.
Senator Thomas did not like the
leasing bin a little bit and explained
his reason for supporting 1t. Il have
not changed my convictions upon this
subject in the slightest" said the Colo
RADIO senator; but when at the bar l
always, after a thorough defeat, was
ready to compromise, not because i
wanted to but because i had to-"
Instead of there being one lone wOm-
an member of the house after the cleo
tons this year, predictions are freely
made that there may be half dozen.
Not only is it expected that women VIII
be elected In some of the western suf
frage states, but II is said that New
York, which Joined the suffrage col
umn last fall, will send two or three
women to the house. The time may
come when We will see women sena-
tors.