The Harrison times., 1917-05-12
STATE CAPITOL
NEWS LETTER
(BY CLIO HARPERD

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war under any consideration, the peo'
pie of Arkansas as a man are standing
back OF President Wilson in the stand
that he has taken against Prussian
aggression. Even those who oppose
war are discreetly silent since they
are so greatly in the minority, and
pacifism is not a popular policy. From
one end of the state to the other the
men and women are rallying to the
colOrs in every branch of the service.
To quote a former Democratic presi-
dent, 1T is not a theory but a c0ndi-
ton that confronts us" and the in
herent hate of all people for the hor-
rors of war must give place to a pat
riotic desire TO come to the aid of the
country when menaced by foreign
foe. The country calls, and it is rec.
Ognized to be the duty Of all who are
eligible to military or other service to
"dO their bit" to maintain the suprem-
acy of the flag we all love. There are
some who are conscientiOusly opposed
to the principle Of cOnsCriptiOn, but
since it has come, under the guise of
"selective draft" there will be found
few slackers among the youth of
Arkansas.
The enlistments in the navy, army,
National guard, artillery, reserve Off
GERS corps, Red Cross, aviation and
other branches has been very heavy
and has greatly increased during the
last few weeks 1t is reported that
the reserve officers, who are to be
trained for the command of the 100000
men being raised as the first army,
and the Red Cross recruits are likely
to be the first called into the service
at the front. This has greatly increas-
ed the number of recruits in those
branches, and it is thought the quota
of $500 for the division consisting of
the states of Mississippi, Louisiana,
and Arkansas, will be filled soon after
the opening of the camp at Fort Logan
H. Roots May IA Young men of Ar
kansas are coming home from college
and university, from employment in
other states, and from mercantile and
commercial life at home, to enlist and
prepare for the future. With the Op-
portunity to volunteer, there are few
who will permit themselves to be
drafted into the service. Employers
as a rule are encouraging their young
men to enlist, and mothers are fearful
ly but bravely yielding their sons to
the cause of the country's need
Little Rock has not felt the effect
of war so much in generations. 1t is
reflected in the high prices Of every
thing, whether the increases are justi-
fled or not Prices of everything to
eat and wear have gone beyond rea-
son, and all are hoping that the time
is rapidly approaching when the fed
eral government will undertake to reg
ulate prices of necessities, so that the
poor people may not suffer.
The prospects are very bright for
Little Rock to secure a division head
quarters camp, which would mean the
stationing of about 10000 men here
representing every branch of the SER
vice except the navy-an army COM
plete in every detail This will mean
the expenditure in Little Rock by the
government and soldiers themselves
of approximately $l00OOO0 a month.
1t will mean an uneXampled prosper
ity for supply merchants and many
other lines Of business, and every
class will feel the effect of this flood
of money.
There is a small city growing under
the saws and hammers Of an army of
carpenters that has been recruited
from the city of Little Rock It is al
most impossible to secure carpenters
for work in the city Every man who
asks for employment as mechanic
can get it. Men have left all kinds
of work in the city to work for the
government There is no longer an
army of unemployed, except that class
of the worthless hobo whose union
recently adopted a resolution against
war.
Those who are too old to be eli.
gible, or are married refuse to be de-
prived of their opportunity to serve
their country, and are rallying to the
organization of the Home Guards.
Probably two thousand have been en-.
rolled in Pulaski county, and there are
several groups OF them already en-
gagged in regular drills under the in.
struction Of competent drillmasters
It is planned to secure guns from the
government for the equipment of the
Home Guards, and to have well
trained regiment that can in a few
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