The Colorado statesman., 1918-09-21
so REPORTS PROMINENT REPUe.
LlckN WHO HAS BEEN TOUR
ING THE COUNTRY.
ALL ARE 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.
WashingtOn.-Perhap after all.
when President Wilson remarked that
politics is adjourned" he was stating
fhct that 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 a trip through
out the country extending from Wash
ihgton TO California.
The strangest thing that l Oh
served" lie remarked upon his arrival
III Washington. "is the fact that
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
coulG see. the country Is behind Pres
ldent Wilson. and although l am
stanch Republican,, | firmly believe
that If an election for president were
to take place tomorrow, President Will
son would be elected regardless of its
being third term. So far as ! OBJ
served, the people are In 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 n great many senator's and
representatives did not believe that
sufficient number of men for army
service had been procured between the
ages of 2l and 81. Senator Pomerene
of Ohio made very strong speech in
which he criticized the failure of the
"comblng process" and he remarked
that there were too many men placed
In 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 u 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.
comparison of the totals men,
toned In casualty lists and those
listed as prisoners of war in Ger
many shows that 1t is easier for the
Huns to kill or wound American sol
,liers than 1t is to capture them. No
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-
ernd." 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 n 1OS-
pound page In u soldiers outfit as an
argument that boys of 18 are too
young to be drafted. One amusing ref
erence to Johnsons action was made
by Congressman Langley of Kentucky. |
II do not believe" said Langley, that
there Is single member of this body. |
with the possible exception of Uncle
Joe Cannon, who could not outpoint
that boy in any physical contest, and |
am not so sure but that even Uncle
Joe might come out CT 1t the master"
But on the other hand. as one MEM
ber put 1t, there are other eighteen
year-old boys that could outrun and
outjump any man In the house and
Outright any two of them.
When the report of the senate sub
gt
duction was ready for presentation II |
was brought up by Senator Thomas OF
Colorado, chairman of the subcommit-
tee. In presenting the report he said
that the committee on military affairs |
had instructed him to have 1t read. SO
the secretary of the senate began |
reading. Before very long, however,
the Colorado senator interrupted: I'm |
view of the fact that the reading of
this report does not seem to command |
the presence of the senate, / ask TINT |
Its further reading be dispensed with"
That report was too important for SEN
ators to listen to 1t. They wanted to !
get a copy and read 1t.
Never n congressman or congression- |
al party finishes trip through the |
war area without at least one narrow
escape from death. Stories that come |
back from time to time assert that |
Senator Blank or Congressman Dash |
has barely missed being exterminated |
In an nir raid or by an enemy shell. |
Doubtless when the adventurous ones |
come back to this country they Will |
also be subjected TO many sarcastic |
remarks from their colleagues regard I
ing their ability to withstand gas at
tacks because of experience with
them before in senate or house.