The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-10-25
NATIONAL COMMITTEES OF THE
BIG PARTIES WILL SELECT
THEM IN DECEMBER.
CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS LEAD
Many Others will Submit Their
Claims-Gatherings to Nominate
Next President Probably Will Be
Early in June.
BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.

! already beginning to prepare for mex
years presidential campaign. The
| first sexual step by either of the old
! party committees will be to select Il
| convention city. Each committee will
| do this at Il meeting which will be
held here about the middle of De
cember. Having decided where the
convention will be held. as well as
the convention date. each committee
VIII issue the formal call for the con.
Nention. Custom dictates that the
party that /" not represented by the
occupant of the White House shall
hold its convention first. and unless
This custom shall be diSregarded the
Republicans will meet AT least one
week. and probably two weeks. IN ad-
vance of the Democrats.
In 1916 the conventions were held
about two weeks earlier than ever he
fore, the Republicans meeting on June
at Chicago and the Democrats on
June II M 81. Louis. and the represent
atiNeS of the parties seem To like the
idea of getting the nominations out
OF the way early in June. So il IS gem
orally assumed members of the ma
uonal committees say. that the con-
NentionS next year will be over by The
middle Of June, or soon thereafter.
Many cities already have let II be
known that they would like to enter
tain one or both of the old party
conventions. Chicago and ST. Louis
have come to he known as favorite
political convention cities. and the pOI-
ltlcianS express the view that il 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-
lions which they will submit 10 the
December meetings are Cleveland In
annapolis, Minneapolis. Kansas Civ
and Denver. At least two Pacific
coast cities, Los Angeles and Port.
land, have indicated that they will in
due time let ii be known that they
also will extend invitations.
Chosen City Must Pay the Bill.
The city ;hat takes care of q ma
tlonal political convention must ohli-
gate itself 10 pay the bills of the con-
ventiOn. This rule has been followed
for good while. This does NOT mean
that the city becomes responsible for
the hotel bills or other exnenses of
the delegates. but IL does mean that II
must provide the hall free of cost and
take care of the Legitimate expenses
of the national committee. The situo-
tion is usually met by the CITY turn
ing over To the national committee q
cash sum sufficient To cover the To-
Ultimate convention expenses.
Next years conventions will contain
the same number of delegates that sat
in the conventions in 1916. The num- |
Der Of delegates from each state is
based on the number of senators and
the state has in con- /
gresS. and although q new census will
be taken in January next year, the re-
for congressional DIR
poses will not be 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 IFS
normal strength. II now numbers
about 100000 men and $4,000 Off
,erS. The high water mark of the war
vas reached November IL. last year
he day that the armiStice was signed
when the payroll of the army contain
I'd the names of 36TO.SSS men. A bin
signed by the president the other day
provides that there shall not be more
han $1,000 commissioned officers from
october 3, 1919, until June 70 1000
This means that 10000 officers must
Re let out. The legislation which the
PRESIDENT has just approved also au-
horlZes the secretary of war TO re-
ain such officers as may be necessary
n grades above their present rank.
Difiicult as the process of building .
p the army has been, the tearing
own and shaping into a peace time
rganiZatiOn is more difficult mat ,
er. The difficulties of adjustment have .
-" ny lilt uncertainties rs l..
the future military policy of the
overnment, the inadequacy of pay in :
he face OF the high cost of living and
he failure of all classes TO realize
hat economies must be promptly met
n peace there cannot be permitted
he latitude in the use of officers that
necessary In war and the rank and
Of officers must be governed :
consideration of length of service
Experience and general value 70 tba !,
hillary establishment as well rs n,
during the war. "
Ten thousand Must Go.
In anticipation of the passage n, =,
lie bill providing for $4,000 officers :
lie war department allotted this num. "
er OF officers TO various command, :
nd military activities of the army n,
)me and abroad. The total numbe, "
officers that may be retained by an,
or activity for the time no
z was fixed and the COMMANDING off ',
RS of these organizations were direo =
q TO select, from the officers undor !,
cir command. sufficient number of -,
She Had Different Ambition