The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-10-25
CONVENTION CITIES
TO Be NAMED soon
NATIONAL COMMITTEES OF THE
BIG PARTIES WILL SELECT
THEM IN DECEMBER.
CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS LEAD
Many others Will Submit Their
cIalms-Gatherings to Nominate
Next President Probably viii Be
Early in June.
gv JAMES p. HoRNADAY.

tees of the two political parties are
already beginning to prepare FOR next
years presidential campaign. Inc
first actual step by either OF the ola
party committees will be TO select a |
convention city. Each committee VIII
do this at q meeting which will De
held here about the middle OF De
eember. Having decided where the
convention will be held, as we'll 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 it's convention first, and unless
this custom shall be dlsregarded the
Republicans will meet at least one
week, and probably two weeks, in al
vance Of the Democrats.
In 1915 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 ut 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 is gen
orally assumed members of the ma
tional committees say, that the con-
ventions next year will be over by the
middle Of June, or soon thereafter.
Many cities already have let 1t be
known that they would like to enter
tain one or both of the old party
conventions. Chicago and st. Louis
have come to be known as favorite
political convention cities, and the pol
iticlans 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-
lions which they will submit to the
December meetings are Cleveland, In
dlanapolls, 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 care Of ma
tional political convention must obi
gate itself to pay the bills Of the con
vention. This rule has been followed
for good while. This does not meaI
that the city becomes responsible FOL
the hotel bills or other expenses o.
the delegates, but It does mean that 1
must provide the hall free Of cost ant
take care Of the legitimate expense
Of the national committee. The situa
ton is usually met by the city turn
ing over to the national committee
cash sum sufficient to cover the lie
Ultimate convention expenses.
Next years conventions will contai
the same number Of delegates that sa
In the conventions in 1915. The nun
Der Of delegates from each state |
based on the number of senators an
representatives the state has In col
gress, and although new census wi
be taken in January next year, the r
apportionment for congressional pu
poses will not be made in time to a
feet the political conventions,
Reducing Army to Peace Basis.
The army Of the United Stat,
has been reduced to almost /
normal strength. 1t now numbe
about 100000 men and $4,000 of
GERS. The high water mark of the Wi
was reached November II, last yea
the day that the armistice was signe
when the payroll of the army contai
ed the names Of S,67O.8S9 men. A b
signed by the president the other d.
provides that there shall not be mo
than $4,000 commissioned officers fro
October 8, 1919, until June 30, 49,
This means that 10000 officers mu
be let out The legislation which t
president has just approved also q
thorizes the secretary Of war to i
tain such officers as may be necessa
In grades above their present rank.
Difficult as the process of bulldi
up the army has been, the teari
down and shaping into a peace til
organization is a more difficult M
ter. The difficulties of adjustment hs
been increased by the uncertainties
to the future military policy Of /
government, the inadequacy of pay
the face Of the high cost of living q
the failure of all classes to real
that economies must be promptly n
In peace there cannot be permit
the latitude In the use of officers Il
is necessary in war and the rank q
promotion of officers must be govern
by consideration of length of servl
experience and general value to
military establishment as we'll as
accomplishments during the war.
Ten Thousand Must Go.
In anticipation Of the passage
the bill providing for 1900 Office
the war department allotted this nj
Der of officers to various commar
and military activities Of the army
home and abroad. The total NUM-
of officers that may be retained by 6
command or activity for the time
ing was fixed and the commanding {
Gers Of these organizations were dir
ted to select, from the officers uni
their command. a sufficient number