The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-01-22

| Sucn restraint necessary that IN the
opinion or our congressional represen-
tatives will not tend to destroy de-
mocracy, free government and the
| free expression of thought known not
to be fifth column activity.
Sincerely yours,
E. B. COOLIDGE
Roundup, Mont,
January IA, 1941
Editor, Peoples Voice,
Helena, Mont.
Dear Sir:
1t seems to us, out here In the
'rhubarbs" Of the state that the final
and most progressive q almost said
"only'') act of the retiring (Ayers) ad-
ministration has at last put Montana
on the map. Montana now stands
first and poor old Kentucky will have
to take a back seat. Montana now
has more "Colonels" than any other
state in the union.
We, in the outlying districts, have
been puzzling our brains for the last
fortnight, to figure out the political
and economic significance of the sud
den deluge of "Colonels' that has de-
scended on the state like an August
thundershower, and the reason for 1t
(if any remains as dark mystery
as ever 1t may be that failure of
the water conservation department to
develope sufficient water in the dry
territory inducing the retiring gov
ernor to make it rain "colonels" in
stead of raining "cats and dogs" had
something to do with the matter but
that does not seem to be an adequate
explanation. Naturally the qualifica-
ton of a Kentucky colonel" is gen.
orally understood to be his capacity
to imbibe mint juleps but even that
doesn't seem to supply the answer.
Several of our left-wing friends have
suggested that since so many business
men were commissioned" it might
have been because of their ability to
charge, but none of these suggestions
seem to cover all cases.
At any rate Montana has passed up
poor old Kentucky like pay-car
passed a hungry hobo and along with
our other surplusses that have been
causing us so much embarrassment
we now have surplus of "Colonels'
and it is causing our ordinary citizens
considerable puzzlement. You can
readily imagine the embarrassment of
the ordinary proletarian when meeting
another on the street and, not being
able to carry the full list with him.
being uncertain whether or not to
salute him as Colonel" Then also
whenever one opens a door he has to
glance carefully around to avoid the
possibility of stepping on a Colonel"
People in our larger towns are de-
veloping the habit of walking care
fully on tiptoe to avoid inadvertant
casualties. Our present legislature
should by all means take some action
requiring these colonies to wear a
uniform or at least some insignia so
that the average citizen can distin-
guish colonel from an ordinary
nut"
I am informed that in some quar-
ters the problem has become so acute
that several city councils are seriously
debating the abvisability of passing
to forbid any one to allow
4 colonel to run at large within the
city limits without having license
tag and being muzzled. This later
provision has been suggested only in
ocalities where some of the colonies
are thought to be ferocious At any
ate the surplus Of colonies is causing
almost as much embarrassment as the
surplus of farm products and with
he added difficulty that we can't dis
pose of them as we did of the farm
surplus, by throwing them at the OPP
)osite presidential candidate since the
election is over, and we will therefore
lave to put them in storage until
he next presidential election unless
President Roosevelt can exchange
hem with Great Britain for some adj
litional naval bases. 1t is highly
doubtful however if Great Britain will
ind such an exchange as attractive
S the exchange for destroyers, since
ou can't sink German submarines
With colonies, unless it could be done
y overlooking the sub and that is
ntirely in the realm of speculation.
This idea of exchange however
pens up a new avenue of thought re-
arding disposal of the surplus, which
might be advisable to investigate.
seems that in its haste the outgoing
devoted it's attention
ntirely to the land forces and alto
ether neglected the naval angle Now
ere in central Montana we are en-
with surplus of colonies
nd have no naval officers whatever.
he recent warm spell has caused
considerable water to stand in the
reefs and consequently we feel that
ome attention should be given to pro-
ding a navy. 1t is our belief that
e could have battleship on the
Ike at Fort Peck, a cruiser or two
eted), several destroyers on the yell
wstone and possibly submarine on
lie Musselshell All this would call
+ some naval officers and here in
,ntral Montana we are preparing to
lvertise that we will exchange one
inbred fifty colonies (brand new for
slightly used admiral, four captains
Id a sprinkling of able seamen or
uple of "bosuns mates"
On further thought and after careful
i L. 4 L.