The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-05-11
PRESIDENT WILL
TRAVEL | AND TALK.
WOULD NOT HAVE MUCH CHANCE
FOR THAT IF HE WAITED FOR
CONGRESS TO ADJOURN.
WILLING TO MAKE SPEECHES
His Appearance Not Always on Ma
tionai observation-disclosures That He,
Will Visit Alaska Before the Sum-
mer Is Over.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.

Observation-Disclosures Harding ap-
parently does not intend to wait on the
adjournment of congress to begin his
public appearances in different parts
Of the country as speaker on occa-
sions of civic importance. Probably
the President realized from the rec
ord of congress since 1907 that if he
waits on adjournment he will get few
chances to leave Washington, for only
in one or two years since that earlier
date has there been any long extended
breathing spell for the national legis-
lators.
The President in reviewing the
North Atlantic fleet as commander in
chief Of the navy, performs a service
duty which all presidents undertake
, once or twice in the course Of their
incumbency Of high Office. Soon the
President will begin his excursions into
the civic field. Already he has filled
one New York engagement, and made
another one for the early fall at Biz
mingham, Ala. A delegation of citt-
Zens Of Alabama came to the White
House the other day headed by Sena-
tor Underwood, and asked the Presi-
dent to go.to Birmingham within a few
weeks, but he found this impossible,
and promised to go later.
More than any other President who
has held office in recent years, Mr..
Harding seems to be willing to make
speaking engagements on occasions
which represent local activities rather
than those of national life. Already
he has. spoken at the Gridiron club din
ner in Washington, at an assembly Of
the Knights Of Pythias, and soon he
is to address an association of bank
ers in Washington. = 9sss
-. I, May Go to Alaska 5..ss>t J
1t is possible that before the summer
is over President Harding will go to
Alaska. If he does and undertakes
to find out what is wrong with Alaska,
if anything is wrong with it, he will
have to listen to representatives of
two sides Of a sharp controversy. The
Alaska railroad problem, just at pres
ent, is a .perplexing one. Undes the
authority of congress a railroad has
been built in Alaska by the govern
ment, and there: are rumOrsl that it is
going to cost q great deal more than
1t was expected to cost, that it cannot
make any money after it is completed,
and that the line of its route was badly
chosen from a business standpoint.
E If the President goes to Alaska, he
probably will take two Of his cabinet
officers with linn, both of whom are
concerned, in behalf Of their depart
,ments, about matters in the territory.
Secretary FAN Of the Interior depart
ment today has under his charge the
work Of completing the Alaska rail-
road. The secretary probably will want
to know all about the things as his
predecessor in office handed them down
to him. Secretary of the Navy DENLY
also is likely to go to- Alaska with
the President if the journey is under
taken. b ,.Szs I. =. (.
Preparedness Is Pershino's Work. a
An assignment which has been
given to Gen. John j. .Pershing,
and just outlined officially by
the War department, has been her.
aided as news-new news, in fact.
The. plan for Pershing's future work,
however, was given in authoritative
detail in previous correspondence. 4
General Pershing will take hold of
his job willingly and with feeling
that it is one entirely in keeping with
his position as ranking officer Of the
American army. 1t is the intention
of the secretary Of war to frame the
final instructions concerning the meth
cd : of the work so that there will be
no conflict Of authority between the
general of the army and the major
general who is, to become the chief
Of staff.
In word, Pershing's work is to be
preparedness. He will take the re-
serve forces Of the United States as
they are, increase their numbers to
the greatest extent possible, do what
Ire can to bring the National Guard
up to full enlistment strength and
seek to bring about good feeling be-
tween the reserves, the National
Guard and the regular army with q
view to making them one in spirit,
in service, and possibly one day in de-
termination quickly to become one SOL
der organization for the, winning of
a war, if unhappily war shall come.
Weeks Tries Roosevelt's Method.
Secretary Weeks apparently wants
to do as much in the way of prepar-
edness as he can do with the means
at his command. Some critics here
say that some Of the Republican mem
bers Of congress who "cussed OUT the
last administration for Stacking along
preparedness lines, are now pre-
paredness slackers themselves. It is
possible, however, that the regular
army under pending legislation will
be given 10000 more troops than the
house at first authorized.
If this is done it will be done under