The Monticellonian., 1919-10-24
CONVENTION CITIES
 U BE NAMED SOON
MA loNAl COMMITTEES OF THE BIG PARTIES WILL SELECT
 THEM IN DECEMBER.
CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS LEAD
Many Others Will Submit Their elaIms-Gatherings to Nominate Next President Probably Will Be Early in June.
By JAMES p. HoRNADAY

'y 'il SIIiC.
 By JAMES p. HoRNADAY.
 "aShinston.-Thc national commit tees of the two political parties are already beginning 10 prepare for next wears presidential campaign. The hfst actual step by either of the old party committees will be to select q convention city. Each committee will do thls at q meeting which will be Hetd here about the middle of De cember Having decided where the convention will be held. IS well as the convention date, each committee Will issue the formal call for the con Nehtioh. Custom dictates that the party that k not represented by the occupant of the White House shall hold is 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 be fore, the Republicans meeting on June at Chicago and the Democrats on June II at St Louis, and the represent adNeS of the parties seem to like the Idea of getting the nominations out of the way early in June. So 1t is gen efaliy assumed members of the ma tional committees say, that the con Nehtlons next year will be over by the middle of June, or soon thereafter. Many cities already have let il be known that they would like to enter tain one CT both of the old party conventions. Chicago and St Louis have come tO he known as favorife political convention cities. and the pol itieianS express the view that 1t is aI- together likely that one of these cit ies and possibly both of them will be favored next year
 Among the cities from which the party ehairmen 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 it= be known that they also will extend invitations.
 Chosen City Must Pay the Bill.
 The city that takes eare af il na- tienal political convention must obli- gate itself to pay the bills of the con vention. This rule has been followed for a good While This does not mean that the city becomes responsible for the hotel bills or other expenses of the delegates, but it does mean that if must provide the hall free of cost and take care of the legitimate expenses of the national committee. The situa- ton is usually met by the city turn ing over to the national committee a cash sum sufficient to eexer the ie- gitimate 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 representatives the state has in con gross. and although q 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 it's normal strength. It now numbers about 340o00 men and 2S.000 off cers The high water mark of the war was reached November II, last year. the day that the armistiee was signed, when the payroll of the army contain cd the names of 3,G7Q, ,SSS men. X bill signed by the president the other day provides that there shall not be more than 1S,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 to re tain such officers as may be necessary in grades above their present rank.
 Difficult as the process of building up the army has been, the tearing down and shaping into q peace time organization is more difficult mat ter. The difficulties of adjustment have been increased by the uncertainties as to the future military policy of the government, the inadequacy 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. Tn peace there cannot be permitted the latitude in the use of officers that is necessary In war and the rank and promotion of officers must be governed bv consideration of length of service, experience and general value to the military establishment as well as ot accomplishments during the war.
 Ten Thousand Must Go.
 Tn anticipation of the passage of the bill providing for 1S,000 officers, the war department allotted this num- Der of officers to various commands and military activities of the army al home and abroad. The total number of officers that may be retained by any command or activity for the time be ing was fixed and the commanding otli- eers Of these organizations were direc fed to select, from the officers under their command. sufficient number of