The Ordway new era., 1919-10-24
BY JAMES p. HoRNAoAY.

| uirtuuy UeSi1IIlS ~ pi'puIt ioi ieNt
years presidential campaign. The
first actual step by either Of the old
4 party committees will be to select
convention city. Each committee will
do this at meeting which will he
held here about the middle of De-
cember. Having decided where the
convention will be held. as well as
the convention date, each committee
will issue the formal call for the con-
vention. Custom dictates that the
party that is not represented by the
| occupant of the White House shall
hold its convention first, and unless
this custom shall be disregnrded the
Republicans will meet at least one
week. and probably two weeks, in I'D
vance of the Democrats.
In 1916 the conventions were held
about two weeks earlier than ever be-
fore, the Republicans meeting on June
8 at Chicago and the Democrats on
June IA Mt st. Louis. and the represent
atives of the parties seem to like the
Idea of getting the nominations out
of the way early in June. So 1t as gen
orally assumed members Of the ma
uonal committees say, that the con-
ventions next year will be over by the
middle of June, or soon thereafter.
Many cities already have let It be
known that they would like to enter
tain one or both of the old party
! conventions. Chicago and st. Louis
have come 10 be known as favorite
political convention cities, and the pol
iticians express the view that 1t is al
together likely that one of these cit
les and possibly both of them will be
favored next year.
Among the cities from which the
party chairmen have received invita-
tions which they will submit to the
| December meetings are Cleveland, In
dianapolis, Minneapolis, Kansas City
and Denver. At least two Pacific
coast cities, Los Angeles and Port
land, have indicated that they will in
due time let 1t be known that they
also will extend invitations.
Chosen City Must Pay the Bill.
The city that takes care of ma
tiOnal political convention must obl-
gate itself to pay the bills of the con
vention. This rule has been followed
for n good while. This does not mean
that the city becomes responsible for
| tHe Iotel UlllS OF DtnPT expenses OF
the delegates, but 1t does mean that II
must provide the hall free of cost and
take care of the legitimate expenses
Of the national committee. The situa-
tion is usually met by the city turn
ing over to the national committee u
cash sum sufficient to cover the le-
gitimate convention expenses.
Next years conventions will contain
the same number of delegates that sat
in the conventions in 1916. The num-
ber of delegates from each state is
based on the number of senators and
representatives the state has in con-
gress, and although new census will
be taken in January next year. the re-
appOrtionment for congressional pur-
poses will not he made in time to af-
feet the political conventions.
Reducing Army to Peace Basis.
The army of the United States
has been reduced TO almost its
normal strength. II now numbers
about 100000 men and 2s.O0O Off
GERS. The high water mark of the war
WAS reached November IL. last year.
the day that the armistice was signed.
when the payroll of the army contain
| "A
signed by the president the other day
| provides that there shall not be more
| than $1,000 commissioned officers from
October 3, 1919. until June 30. 1920.
| This means that 10000 officers must
be let out. The Legislation which the
| president has Just approved also au-
| thoriZes the secretary of war 10 re
tain such officers as may he necessary
in grades above their present rank.
Difficult as the process of building
up the army has been. the tearing
down and shaping into peace time
| organization is u more difficult mat
! ter. The difficulties of adjustment have
been increased by the uncertainties as
TO the future military policy of the
government the nadequacy of pay in
the face of the high cost of living and
the failure of all classes to realize
that economies must be promptly met.
In pence there cannot he permitted
tho latitude in the use of officers that
Is necessary in war and The rank and
promotion of officers must be governed
by consideration of length of service.
experience and general value to the
military establishment as well as OF
accomplishments during the war.
Ten Thousand Must Go.
| In anticipation of the passage of
the bill providing for $4,000 officers,
the war department allotted this mum.
ber of officers TO various commands
md military activities OF the army M
home and abroad. The total number
| of officers that may he retained by an,
command or activity for the time be
ing was fixed and the commanding off
GERS of these organizations We're direc-
ted to select from the officers under