The September 12, 1918 Colorado Transcript shows Golden preoccupied with the war in Europe. One article announced that men aged 18 to 45 were required to register for the draft. Having a family and working in an essential industry did not excuse a man from registering. "If you shirk your duty not only will you be in personal danger of arrest and severe punishment, but your country will be in danger."
Another article, "Draft Evader Gives Up," provides an object lesson on the fate awaiting shirkers. A young man from Boston fled the state to avoid registering for the draft. "He said that he had been in continued fear of being arrested...." Too nervous to enter a town to buy food, he had been living on raw sugar beets. He finally turned himself in to Jefferson County Sheriff Burt Jones. The article speculated that the 24-year-old would serve a short term in jail and then be drafted.
"Golden Soldier Complimented" tells us that Golden businessman Joseph Dennis had received a card from an army officer in Kentucky. He had encountered Dennis' son, Orville, in a training camp and was full of compliments. "Lieutenant Dennis is every inch a soldier and is very popular with both his men and fellow officers."
"Military Training Starts at School of Mines" describes the training that Mines students would undergo. In additional to fitness classes, they would learn to use weapons and have lectures on military theory and deportment. Those who excelled at the training might be recommended for officer training. Foreign students were also required to receive the training, but they would not be inducted into the service "unless, of course, they take the oath of allegiance."
Civilians also had a role to play, as explained in "Here's Chance to Help with New Liberty Loan." Golden residents were asked to contribute $1 apiece. That was not an investment; it was a donation to help pay the expenses of mailing out information about the Liberty Loan that would help fund the war.
