Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-09-18

There are many senators and
representatives who no doubt would
like to revise the records which
they made when the United States
first entered the war. 1t is a we'll
known fact that considerable proper
ton of the membership of congress
was opposed to the war and would not
have voted for 1t had it not been for
the urgency of the president. Even
when they voted for war a great many
of them expressed the fervent hope
that American troops would never be
sent to Europe and that they would
not suffer death and wounds on the
battletieldS. The idea which seemed
to prevail among so many congressman
was that we were entering the war on
the moral side and did not intend to
do. any real fighting But this is not
that kind of a war; Nothing but the
hardest kind of fighting can win.
Now that American troops have been
engaged for some time on the western
front and have given a good account
of themselves, it is probable that diff
ferent idea pervades congress and that
those men who were pacifistS, anti
draft men, and antiwar men wish that
they had taken different course. The
defeat of quite a number of them has
been a serious lesson, and there are
others who fear that they may be treat
ed to the same kind of medicine if
campaigns are made against them on
their war record in congress.
No one can look at the casualty lists
Of American soldiers fighting in France
without seeing that this is truly war
of all the people Practically every
nationality is indicated by the names
of these killed and wounded men.
italian. Jewish, Russian, Polish, Span
ish, Scandinavian, and every other
race and people on earth are repre-
scented either by their native-born sons
who emigrated to the United States or
by American-bern children of such emf
grants. Many of the names of men
who gave up their lives to help crush
Prussianism stand as silent proof Of
their own German ancestry.
Everybody who writes letters to SOL
diers abroad is urged to be little con-
siderate and not to unload tales of
grief and trouble at home upon the
bows who are having about all they can
do TO bear up. Some people are natu-
raj born complainers, and have to pour
out their ideas on paper and send them
where they do the most harm.
What becomes of the spies? That is
a question that is sometimes asked and |
is never answered. We are quite well
aware that a great many spies have
been arrested, but further than the an
nouncement Of such arrest little or
nothing is heard of them. 1t is al
together likely that such spies are
we'll taken care of. In fact, it Is
doubtful whether it is necessary to
take the same spy twice If his guilt is
proved. If there is one class more
than another that deserves the sever
est punishment, it is that element in
America which furnishes aid to the en-
envy of the United States in a time like
this. and such punishment is particu-
larly due to those spies who are aid
ing the German sea monsters along our
coast to sink American vessels and
drown American citizens who are not
in the fighting forces Of America.
In spite of the fact that Senator
vardaman had opposed many things |
in the way of legislation which re-
ceived the support of the majority, he
had many friends in the senate who
are genuinely disappointed over his
defeat. But he will be succeeded by a
very popular man. Pat Harrison, dur
ing his service in the house of repre-
sentatives, has won the esteem and
friendship of nearly every man he has
known 1t is no doubt this personal
popularity of Harrison gave him the
big vote in Mississippi.
The 'slicker" problem which stirred
I'D so much comment in congress a few
months ago seems to be on its way
to settlement by the military heads.
"Slicker" was the term applied to the
thousands of reserve officers and men
who were on duty in Washington and
who, congress thought, should be near
err the actual fighting. Several war
department bureaus have issued or
ders that all physically fit officers and |
enlisted men now in Washington shall
be assigned to active service and be
replaced by women or men physically
disqualified for service in the field. |
Little or no criticism was made of the |
many naval reserves who were station |
ed at headquarters, but the naval au-
thorities are making ready t. apply the |
same system as that established by the |
war department.
For the benefit of housewives who |