The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-05-26

For Stronger Reserve Forces.
one of the missions Of General Per.
shing will be to increase the strength
Of the reserve forces. There are now
about GO,UOO men in civil lI'n who
hold commissions in the reserve corps.
This seems like a large number, but it
is claimed it is not enough. For some
reason or other, thousands Of young
men who held commissions in tie
yrrHt war declined to enter the re-
serve. The enlisted personnel Of The
reservoirs almost down to the vanish
ing point. Of course it is expected
by congress that the members of the
American Legion and other veteran
organizations at once will enter the
service if war shall come. but the
officers Of the regular army want the
reserve ranks filled 50 that it will
be possible for short time each year
to order certain units Of the reserve
into training. This can be done I'M
der the law with the reserve forces.
Men who have served are likely to
grow stale unless given licld work.
The War department has stopped
the sale Of government-0Wu"d ammu-
milton and supplies. 1t can be said
today that the administrator docS not
intend to allow the country to drift
into a state Of unplepAredneSS in the
matter Of lhe material Of war.
Can Solid South Be Split?
Some time ago the Republican
national committee appointed a sub
committee with instruction to 90
into the southern states, there to
study the situation and to formulate
a report on means to fix the repre-.
SenlaliOn Of the South in future Re-
publican conventions on basis more
in keeping with the partys voting
strength in that section Of the coun.
try.
The subcommittee is expected also
to make a thorough inquiry into po'
Itical conditions in the southern
states with view to determining if
Il considerable part of the Democrats
dwelling therein cannot be expected
shortly to change their party alfiIia'
tons.
Are the Republican party leaders in
congress out dreaming dreams, or have
they some solid basis for their ap.
parent belief that in the near years
Of the future they are to make IN
roads into the voting strength OF the
South?
Are the efforts of the Republicans
to amount to anything? Democratic
leaders in congress, true to their par
,y traditions and principles, say "no.'
Republicans. however. seemingly have
been bolStercd in their hopes by tarlfF
Developments in the South, and also
by recent manifestation of high
tariff desires by a large delegation OF
southern business men who have just
visited the White House on tariff
mission bent, and who also appeared
before the house committee on ways
and means on the same errand.
Think Tariff Will Be the Wedge.
Some time this summer the Fordney.
Penrose tariff bill will be passed by
a Republican house and senate and
signed by Republican President.
In former years when Republican
tariff bills were before congress for
consideration the Democrats Of the
country. North and South, stood viz.
tualIy in solid ranks for low rates,
and some Of the Democrats, many
Southerners among them, vowed their
fidelity to the cause of free trade or
to a close approach to it.
1t is true that few of the Demo.
Gratis of the North and South yielded
their low tariff positions in favor OF
protection for certain industries in
which the home districts were inter.
ested, thereby bOlstering Winfield
Scott Hancocks pronOuncement when
he was the Democratic candidate for
the presidency: "The tariff is local
issue"
1t is apparent today that the Re-
publicans hope that the tariff Is to
be enc of the wedges to break the
solid South. The Democrats say this
is nonsense, and that even if some
of the Southern senators and repre-
sentatives shall give way to high
tariff pressure in behalf of certain
southern industries, they in the main
will stand stanchly by the old tariff
for-revenue-only cause and will have
no fear in their hearts that any or
%heir constituents will leave the DEM
0cratic party to consort with the re-
publicans.
In some of the industrial districts
of the South. Republicanism, so say
J members of the Republican national
committee, is strongly intrenched, and
if its influence in these business CEN
. tiers can find means to extend itself
outside Of its present limits. Republic
! canism. they say, will come into re-
spectacle share of the voting fruits
Of the southern states.
rk> Mo%or;no M,,It;tuda