The Colorado statesman. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961, 1919-03-29

abroad. To name. only three or four
of the better known ones among them,
there were Chrlsty Mathewson, Hank
Gowdy, Ty Cobb and Eppa Rixey.
When Mathewson, Cobb and Rlxey
were commissioned as captains in the
gas and flame service of the United
States there was some criticism of the
action. Why, 1t was asked, should
these men be given captalncles when
they had had no previous military ex-
periencef There was n real reason for
making men of this kind captains of
the gas and flame service.
These men were known undoubtedly
to every soldier In the American ex-
peditionary forces. A gas officer has
services of peculiar kind to perform.
1t Is necessary for him to have the
close attention of his men when they
are under instructions and 1t Is neces-
sary also that the instructor should be
a man well qualified physically to do
things well. and in hurry. and should
so lmpart the lessons to others that
they will be equally capable and alert.
Going to the Front With Rixey.
With Eppa Rlxey, In" left-handed
twirler of the Philadelphia Nationals
had "a hours of intimate acquaint-
ance. A man can live n long time In
"a hours when he Is on or near the
battle front in France. Rlxey is fine
type of soldier. He is still in service.
One day some time before the arms
tice went into effect l was In Souilly.
not far from Verdun. This place then
was the field headquarters of General
Pershing. From Souilly was to go to
the front in the Argonne to report to
Gen. Joseph T. Dickman, then in com
mand of the First army corps.
At Souilly was waiting for an OPP
portunity to hop into motorcar and
proceed the 100 miles necessary to be
traversed before reaching the First
corps headquarters. Along came Cap
tain RiKey in an open motor with his
bedding ron, his gas mask and his tin
hat. He had been ordered to proceed
to the far front to act as gas officer of
one of the fighting divisions.
Tins baseball pitcher, who is n
nephew of a former surgeon general
of the United States navy and gradu-
ate of the University of Virginia,
stands about 6 feet inches in his hik-
ing shoes, and he is big in proportion.
1t was some ride that EppG Rlxey
and l undertook that dag. 1t was as
cold as France in October knows how
to be, as windy as it was cold, and
most of the time 1t was raining hard
er than both"
came pretty near freezing, because
my bones are not clothed with as much
flesh as Rixey can boast. Moreover, i
am old enough to be his father, and
then some. That day he looked after
me much as a good son looks litter his
father, and this was not due to the
fact that ranked him in the army.
Facts About the New Senate.
The senate of the United States, as
1t will be constituted In the Sixty
sixth congress, is as follows: Pre-
siding officer, Thomas r. Marshall,
vice president of the United States,
Democrat; Republican senators, 40 {;
Democratic senators, At; total SO.
II is easily conceivable, therefore,
that occasionally Thomas r. Mar.
shall may have the deciding vote as
between the parties, provided Repub-
licap is absent or elects to vote with
the opposition on any particular meas
ure.
One of the seats in the senate is a
subject of controversy. 1t is that Of
Truman II. Newberry of Michigan, who
holds the credentials. His right to the
seat is contested by Henry Ford, auto
mobile manufacturer. Newberry has
the party advantage, and If things go
In straight party way he probably
will hold on to his seat.
The men who will take their seats
in the senate for the first time are
Byron P. Harrison of Mississippi Au-
gustus o. Stanley of Kentucky, Arthur
Capper of Kansas, David /. Walsh OF
Massachusetts,. Walter e. Edge Of New
Jersey, Henry w. Reyes Of New
Hampshire, Medill Mccormick of nli-
nois, Truman II. Newberry of Michi-
gan and Lawrence G. Phipps OF Colo
RADIO.
OF the newly elected senators, four
were the governors Of their respective
states at the time of their election.
These are Stanley, Capper, Edge and
Reyes. Walsh of Massachusetts, is a
former governor of that state.
Two Move Up From House.
Two senators have just received pro
motion from the house of representa-
tiyes They are Harrison of Missis-
sinni and Mccormick of Illinois. Sena-
tor-elect L. Heisler Ball of Delaware
was formerly member of the house
of representatives and at one time was
a senator of the United States.
Davis Elkins, Republican senator
elect from West Virginia, some years
aoo was elected to the United States