The Colorado statesman., 1918-08-10
REALIZE THAT HEROES OF THE
WAR WILL TAKE LEADING
PARTS IN PUBLIC LIFE.
MANY WILL BE IN CONGRESS
Opposition to Wire Control Measure
siIeneed by the knowledge That
German Agents Have Been Using
Our Telegraph and Telephone.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Clans nave DeSun lOOkluB lOTWuiu "
regard to the political effect of the
great war. For the most part this re-
lates to the presidential campaign IN
1920, but there are other considera-
tions which are somewhat personal,
particularly to the younger element In
congress. There Is no question about
the creation of large crop of Great
War heroes. Men who participate In
the present war for democracy and
humanity will be heroes in the eyes
of the people for many years to come
and they will naturally receive politi-
cal benefits accordingly.
For years after the Civil war Union
army men dominated politics In the
North and held most of the offices. In
the South only men who had Confeder-
ate war records were recognized for
any political position. In the North a
Union war record, was for 20 to ~
years great political asset. In all
probability for 40 years after the pres
ent war ends men who participated In
1t will reap political advantage ana
the time is coming when congress VIII
have very large representation or
men who took part in the greatest war
the world has known.
While there was good deal OF OPP
position to the resolution taking over
the telegraph and telephone lines by
the government. yet everything yielded
to military necessity.
There has been suspicion for
long time that both the telegraph and
the telephone have been used by Ger
man agents for the purpose of furnish
ing Information to Germany regarding
the movements of troops and the ves-
sells of the United States as well as
of merchant shipping This suspicion
grew during the time the U-boats were
operating Off the Atlantic coast. 1t
was believed that many innocent
sounding messages sent over the tele-
graph wires and verbally communi-
Gated over telephone wires were really
notifications of German agents az to
The disposition of American troops and
Of intended movements of American
vessels. When this idea was talked
about In congress there was not much
hesitation in giving the government
authority to absolutely control such
lines of communication.
In the bill for the stimulation of ag-
riculture which went over mainly be-
cause of the prohibition amendment
which It contained. there were many
provisions of various kinds. One in re-
gard to rodents caused Senator Pen
rose of Pennsylvania to make inquiries
of Senator Gore of Oklahoma, who had
charge of the bill. "I am curious to
know why this amendment has been
stricken out" said Penrose. "If II had
been merely rodents 1t might have
stayed in, but to strike out noxious
rodent struck me rather unfavorably."
Peoples tastes. of course, change"
blandly replied Senator Gore, 'and
probably we are more fastfdious in
CHASING them as noxious rodents"
"Can the senator tell me Just what
varieties of rodents are described as
noxious?" asked Penrose.
"I may say to the senator" remark
ed Gore, "as he seems to have very
statesmanlike curiosity on this sub
ject, that the department intended to
make an assault on rats and mice In
dwellings We thought perhaps that
was going a little too far In these
strenuous times and we would leave
the individual and our great individ-
ualistic theory to combat the mice, at
least for time"
"They have temporary immunity"
commented Penrose.
"Since we are to have woman suf-
frage," further explained Gore, ut
was thought the women ought to COM
bat the mice. At least that was the
argument that was made before the
committee"
All of which shows that senators can
indulge In some very trivial conversa-
tion during very strenuous times.
On the last day that the house was
in session to do business attention
was called to the attempt at profit
eeing by sharp Washington law
yers and claim agents at the ex-
pense of soldiers who die at the
front. Most of the soldiers have taken
advantage of the generosity of the gov
ernment In the matter of war risk In
surance, and have taken out policies.
Then there is usually some back pay
due soldiers who die in the service.
| The beneficiaries of the war risk In
surance and those to whom the back
pay Is due are sure to receive their
money from the government without
the Intervention of any agent or at
torney. But the attorneys and claim
agents, anxious to make all they can
even at the expense of the widows and
orphans or other relatives of soldiers
who die on the battlefield, seek the
earliest opportunity to get In touch