Norwich bulletin., 1919-09-23
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS


 Washington, D. C.. Sept. g. - It's
 been a week of fan fare of trumpets,
 blaze of bunting. waving flags ana
 martial music. The welcome Of Gen
 Pershinz and the First Division out
 shown anything seen on the streets of
 man. It was spontaneous tribute
 paid to every one of that vast army
 of American boys who went 10
 France and saved the day by their
 zeal and patriotism. It was alike Ia
 tribute to the entire American forces
 and to the general who commanded
 those forces. The parade led by Per
 shing and in which marched 25 900
 regalia artillery, cavalry, infantry,
 and all that goes to make up a d1-
 vision went over five mile course
 of broad avenues. pelted with roses
 and deafened by cheers. It marched
 with colors flying and to the step Of
 great military bands. There is noth-
 ing one can say or write that gives
 an adequate idea of the scene And
 overhead great fleets of huge air
 planes swooped and glided in war a flying wedge.
 To be sure the president was ab-
 sent. and the secretary of state is still on a fishing trip up state,' but there were plenty of others to bid the men
 welcome, and not less than 100000 spectators lined the streets and occu-
 pied reviewing stands for five hours while the long procession passed. And many on-lookers realized that could the 75 900 heroic American dead have risen, and those men who sleep on the fields of France joined in that great demonstration, the line would have been fifteen miles long and could not have passed a given point be- tween dawn and dusk. After a great ovation at the hands of congress the general came up to the press gallery and greeted each member personally We have read of the Pershing smile. And don't be deceived about it. That smile is the real thing, in which a merry twinkle of the eyes form a big part. Moreover, "Black Jack is of far. complexion, burned to a bronze and has a pair of dimples that girl might envy. all in contrast to his military bearing and dignity of carriage. He seems completely un- accepted the tributes. not as person al. but for the whole army.
 It's no use trying to talk about any thing that has not military slant. It's in the air. The league. the treaty, United States have been discussed by congress and committees, to the ex- clusion of all else. General Leonard Wood as witness before the senate committee was the star performer. He sat at the long table in the midst of who listened eagerly to learn his views. The face of the general shows many lines of care. but is strong and clear cut. He expressed no opinion on policies of the past but when asked bout the future struck straight from the shoulder. When questioned about matters in the United States he Answered freely, but to all questions invariably replied quietly. T cannont answer. I had no opportunity to 'udee.' everyone present recalled how Wood was shunted to side track and kept in this country when the troops he had so faithfully trained were sent oversea. Here are some of the things Wood advocated: Universal training for six consecutive months in the 18th year of a mans age: then put him on the reserve list: with a surplus of IS per cent. off, cers: not to put a large force in the as in the event of an at tempt to wrest the islands from us 1t would be sea force. and not 8 land force. that could defend them. When asked what could be done with the great number of officers of high rank urged by the war department. General Wood tersely replied: Pay them" Apparently his idea is that officers of the ranks of ca aptain, ma jor, and colonel are much more need l ed in training a reserve force than those Of higher rank. He expressed the belief that colleges would co-oper- ate with the universal training sys- tenn so men would not lose scholas- l tic year by taking the military ] course There is no doubt that a | strong undercurrent of opinion ex- sts here both in civilian and military circles. that the United States will be involved in another war within | ten years-and that the country must | be prepared to face it. whether or not l t1-- the same it is doubtful at this mo- nent, if the suggestions of the war department or of General Wood will ] be complied with. for it is under | stood that 8 majority of the mi1i- | -ary committee of the house Is re- l ng bill and will urge that instead of 1 preparing men for war we shall make 1 md have on hand a large supply of irrns. ammunition and equipment. on he ground that in the war just clos 1 d we found it easy to raise an army | put impossible to equip it at short 1 notice.
 As a nenb ber of the committee on interstate and foreign commerce Con- yressman Merritt of the fourth Con- i ,f letters protesting against the enact | nent of legislation along the lines of he Siegel bill to require all persons | business to obtain fed 1 eral licenses Ind to have cost marks | ,n their goods in plain figures. The ] pill also requires many other inno- l rations of a radical character to which merchants are filing strong ob- 1 ections- There seems to be little ,roba bility that the bill will find ia l TOT either at the hands Of the com | pittee or congress as a whole. Com henting on the business conditions | If today MT. Merritt said he believed | t was time for the level headed men | If the country to come out in the open | md fight for safe and sane 1egis1a- | ion. Said he: fI think much radical | egislation which has been suggested l egarding general economic law and | principles would fail to pro- | luce the results intended. I anticipate | hat next year there will be no end Of | 'adical and socialistic views put for yard and the sensible and conserva- i've citizens who appreciates what | and tho constitution mean. should not sit idly by and let | he agitators alone do the agitating |