The state herald., 1919-01-10

operated duriag this grave biennial
tionsi GUARD s1cssdsd SIS men, and
~ rapidly ~ sound Judgment has per:
mitted, the force has been reduced until
It now numbers little more than fifty
men. To no point has more than twen-
ty guardsmsn been sent, and this to dc
duty at somo power plant or railroad
bridge or tunnel. and at no time has
| full request of duly constituted author
| tiles OF counties and the request of the
| citixons, further. never except to pro-
tect against supposed alien enemies.
THE sELECTIvE SERVICE.
The selsctive service law was to be
put into effect. The state was divided
| BY the governor into two federal dis
tricts. Two district boards = Denver
Pueblo-each five members. appellate
appointed. Sixty-seven local exemp-
tion boards were also appointed and
organized as named by the governor.
A provost marshal was selected. hav-
Ice. Through the selective service law
over 100000 of various nationnlities
were submitted for registration: over
$4,000 were selected ..r over 1900 were
most delicate and responsible trust had
these various boards. Many, man
who served came from the auieter M and
WhIks OIL luo. lcHiptttioii
great in passing upon the questions Of
exemption, and yet no member OF TINS
entire selective service force has ever
been removed for disloyalty. fraud or
tial charge has ever been laid against
any member of this effective force.
The state and the nation owes them
a debt Of gratitude. 1t was this sys.
TEN that gave to us our army. Most
OF these men gave their service without
financial compensation.
So efficient was the provost marshal
first named that he was called to
Washington for higher service, and his
successor had not gone far upon his
way until he was called to Washington
Into consultation and for advice as to
the great work that is still before this
department.
The state. through the selective
draft, the National Guard and volun-
tary enlistments, has given to the army
and navy OF the American Union over
10000 men. No state has done more.
NATIONAL GUARD.
When the call OF the President came
to mobilize the National Guard. the
proclamation Of the governor went
1t was to go into federal service. Every
man responded and some 5000 were
gathered in the mobilization camps
Camp Gunter at Pueblo and Camp
wear. blankets and other equipment
were promptly contracted for and pur-
chased at from SO to 100 per cent less
than they could have been obtained
drilled, put. into good condition as to
health. and, on the date that the Pres
ident had named--August the bth-
were turned over In superb condition
to the federal government. No state
has done better by its soldiery: no sol
diery has reflected more honor upon
their state and nation.
The mobilization Of the National
~ - nj nj ah nj q Van IN
the selectivs draft and the maintenance
of the protection requested by the
President. for this biennial period, Will
cost the state. when payments are
100000. When we real
ize that the state paid out in our do
nestle troubles of 1903 and 1904 $780,
900, with 100 lives lost and millions of
in the like troubles of 1914 the state
paid out over $4,000, many lives lost,
millions of dollars in property de-
s,royed and business intsrrnpted. and
little is the outlay that even inter-
national war may bring upon US whom
our people are acting harmoniously
and loyalty together. we come to know
act as they have throughout this strug-
gle In loyal and effective harmony.
More than dollars and cents-infinitsly
more-is the good feeling that has OBJ
talned among our people.
In meeting all of these war expenses
no direct tax has been laid upon the
people, except less than ons.auarter OF
mill H. Gr year eGs ISIS rSs ~ss .a'
have been met by the flat tax upon
BY this tax the inter
est upon bonds was to be paid and a
bonds hav. been issued. and from this
flat tax all interest has been paid and
tl1b.ooo paid on the principal sum. The
principal sum Will be rapidly re-
The state has met promptly all obliga-
tlons-and many long outstanding.
Sixty thousand dollars was owing the
city OF Denver. years past due. for spe-
has been paid. For years We have been
Indebted to the military department of
the federal government for supplies.
some friction between the state gov
ernmsnt and the national. This amount
was Investigated. reduced to the proper
amount. less than 5000. and promptly
paid. There has been no complete In
ventory OF the military property OF the
prosimatsiy $4,000. The property has
u careful inventory, with no large In
crease In such property. shows the
niii'S5S .,aas asaS property of the state at
The balance due for the mobiiixa-
tion of 1915, $4,000. has been paid.
W un kTsht uiiticulty vouchers have
been secured and the claims of the
state for the balance due from the fed
ernl government for this mobilization
are approaching payment
We know now every dollars worth
of property that the military depart
ment owns and are maintaining a
close accounting for all supplies r.-
eeived from the federal govsrnms Mt,
which will avoid great loss in the
future.
In this record Of the patriotic efforts
OF our people. may I turn for a fur.
ther word to those In private lifeT Be-
fore the bonds provided were ready
for tn. market IL was necessary to pay
off our soidiery before they were
mustered Into tho federal service. Ger
tificater OF indebtedness might have
been issued to the soidisry and gone
upon th. market. This would have
Involved. as has occurred In tho E..,t
sales nt heavy discount, with loss TO
the soldlory and diseredit to the stat.
Three OF the members of the Council
OF Defense were called In and, after
conference with the governor, state
treasurer, auditor and attorney gen.
eral. tsbo,ooo was promptly furnished
and tho obligations met without a cent
of discount To the soldiers or to the
state.
Various calls were made upon the
nriynts sltlyru At the fitst n.t a..,..