The Harrison times., 1916-07-22
TAE HARRISON TIMES,
J. R. NEWMAN, Editor.
STATE CAPITOL NOTES,
LITTLE Rock, July 10Th

Thirty per cent of the men enlisted
IN the Arkansas National Guard are
being rejected by the Regular army
officials on the final medical eXamina-
lion. Ii has depleted the ranks Of
the two regiments to less than the
peace footing.
To refer, however, to this as
"weeding out" is hardly fair to the
Young men who have shown their
patriotism by offering their services.
They have done their best, and areen-
titled to credit for what they have
tried to do.
There is and can be no stigma at
tached to rejection by the medical
examiners of the army. The exami-
nations to which the men are being
subjected is as rigid as that applied
to recruits in the regular army, for un-
der the new law, the National Guard
of the various states, when mustered
into the service, are in the same rela-
ton to the national government as the
regular army.
Many of the defects forwhlch man
may be rejected are trivial, as looked
upon by a layman, but their possess
on is none the less fatal to the ambitl-
Gus young patriot who longs for q
brush with the MeXicanS. Defects
not noticeable and that in no wise in
capacitate man for other work, have
sent many an Arkansas boy back
home and to his former employment.
As a result, the two regiments, when
filed, will present front of the ply
sically fit who can stand the hardships
of arduous camp life, tiresome patrol
duty with its lurking dangers, and
long, forced marches over burning
deserts.
1t is said that the fate of the Ark
ansas Guard is no worse than that Of
many of the militia units of the North
and East. While there is no urgent
need for the Arkansas troops on the
Border, they are being put into con-
dition for dependable service when
the time comes that they are needed.
Arkansas has no need to feel ag
grieved over the large number of re-
jections, for military authorities agree
that it is for the good of the service
and the good Of the men themselves.
During the recent campaign, Gov.
Hays announced that he proposed to
appoint board of survey TO make
an investigation of the question of
removing the University of Arkansas
from Fayetteville to Little Rock.
This board, or orcommiSsion, was to con-
sist of nonresident educators of we'll
known character, who could have no
personal interest whatever in the con-
troversy. Theirreport would be used
by him as the basis of whatever re-
commentators he might make TO the
Legislature. He also declared him
self in favorof moving the University
to more central location. Since that
time, however, there has been no agi-
tation of the subject, and Gov Hays
this week said he had done nothing
whatever in the premises, and declin-
ed to say when, if ever, he would take
any steps toward carrying out his
purpose.
Never before in the history of the
zinc mining industry in Arkansas has
there been so great an interest in the
work of development that is in pro-
gress in North Arkansas.
1t is rapidly becoming one of the
leading industries of the state, second
only to the timber industry. Ship
ments are being made regularly, and
while the prices are temporarily off,
fortunes are being made in zinc min
ing.
There is no boon apparent in the
Arkansas Zinc Field, says John H,
Page, Commissioner of Mines, Manu-
factures and Agriculture, but a
steady, business-like growth and de-
velopment that marks it for perma-
nency. Many successful operations
are being carried on and dmany golden
opportunities have been taken advan-
tage OF during the past year, but it is
apparent to any one who will give
close observation to the field and pass
conservative judgement on the pres
ent outlook that the field offers equal
or greater opportunities for the future
than have been enjoyed in the past.