Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-15
RECONSTRUCTION 0f SOLDIERS IS
 MOST INFORMANT
Plan for Buying Land and Aiding Soldiers to Secure Homes Most Feasible Proposition Advanced.

IHu TOT buying Lana ana AlOlnS
 Soldiers to Secure Homes Most
 Feasible Proposition Advanced.
 Every English-speakihg country in the world with the exception of the United States States, has enacted leg islatiOn and made appropriations to provide their soldiers and sailors, who are so inclined, with blocks of farm ing land. These countries, include England, Canada, Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and New Zealard.
 While i'll each of these countries, and in different provinces of some of them, the question has been ap- preached from a different angle, the result has been the same; that of in- surfing their returning soldiers and sailors who risked their all that dem- ocracy might be preserved a home with sufficient land to make them a decent living. It is to these coun- tries, most of whom have had several years experience in the soldier and sailor land movement, and particular ly the necessary legislation to bring about the desired result, that the Uni ted States must turn to profit by their fairules and successes in order that the very best plan may be adopted to make provisions for her returning sons. America learned her lesson in the business of war by watching and studying the experiences of her Euro pean sisters who were thrown into the turmoil overnight, and the whole world was thrilled with the speed and precision with which she threw her army of millions over three thousand miles of sea in time to check at the critical moment the advancing Huns. Why then, should she not also study, and profit by the experiences of other. nations in the business of reconstruc- tion as she did in the business of war?
 Plans Made Far Ahead.
 In most of the countries mentioned, according to Elwood Mead, consulting engineer, United States Reclamation Service Department of the. Interior, legislation has been in existence for several years before the war prOvid- ing rural development project under which land was bought, subdivided, improved and sold to settlers on long, time payments. Provision for soldier settlement required, therefore. mere ly the broadening of the system of laws already in operation.
 One important feature of these laws" says MT. Mead, "is the pro- vision for cooperation between the fedora land state authoritiess in Cana da and Australia, and, generally speaking, between the central govern ment on the local authorities"
 In Australia, Mr. Mead says, the scheme for cooperation between the commonwealth government and the several state governments, provides that the state furnish the land and the federal government the money for financing, improving and equipping for reclamation.
 State Aid Necessary.
 "It is believed" continues MT. be the outstanding feature of our leg islation. If the movement is to be national in the fullest sense every state should provide opportunities for it's sons and should contribute to tho expense and share in the direction of the movement. If this plan is fol- lowed, state legislation is as neces- sary as federal legislation, and both ought to be enacted this winter"
 That there will be federal legisla- tion of this sort on a comprehensive scale enacted this winter is now req sonably certain. If Congress follows the course pointed out to it by Presi- dent Wilson in his annual message last Monday. The only conceivable failure to do so would be obstruction on the part of the Republicans, who have intimated that they intend to fight the administration to the last ditch. It is not believed that they would intentially defeat legislation which is intended to benefit return ing soldiers, but there is possibility that they might delay other important measures by filibusters and harassing tactics, which would prevent soldier settlement legislation from coming up for consideration during the present session, with view to forcing an ex- traSsessiOn after the 4th of next March in order that they might dictate, and take credit for, this particular legis- latiOn.
 In his address to Congress, Presi- dent Wilson said: Tt seems to me important that the |deVelOpmente of public works of every sort should be promtply resumed, in order that opportunities should be. created for unskilled labor in partic- ular, and that plans should be made for such developments of our unusued lands and our natural resources as we. have hitherto lacked stimulation to undergo.