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

IltI III N;lSlllliHthll, Ill hll dNS'lllbiS VI
the Knights Of pythiAS. and soon he
is to address an association Of bank
ers in Washington.
May Go to Alaska.
1t is possible that before the summer
is over President Harding will 20 to
Alaska. If he does and undertakes
to find out what is wrong with AIaSka
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 perpIeXiny one. Under the
authority of congress a railroad has
been built in Alaska by the govern
ment, and there are rumOrs that it is
going to cost a great deal more than
it 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.
If the President goes to Alaska, he
probably will take two of his cabinet
officers with him, both Of whom are
concerned, in behalf of their depart
ments, about matters in the territory.
Secretary Fall 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 90 to Alaska with
the President if the journey is under
taken.
Preparedness Is Pershing's Work.
An assignment which has been
slven to Gen. John }. Pershing
and just outlined officially by
the War department, has been her
aided as neWs-neW news, in fact
The plan for Pershngs future work
however, was given in authoritative
detail in previous correspondence.
General pershing will take hold OF
his job willingly and with feeIins
that 1t is one entirely in keeping witt
MS position as ranking officer of the
american army. 1t is the intention
OF the secretary of war to frame the
mai instructions concerning the meth
Oh of the work so that there will be
no conflict Of authority between tn,
general of the army and the maio,
general who is to become the chic
of staff.
IN a word, Pershing's work is to b,
preparedness. He will take the re-
serve forces of the United States a,
'hey are, increase their numbers +,
the greatest extent possible, do wha
he can to bring the National Guar,
up to full enlistment strength an,
seek to bring about good feeling no
tween the reserves, the Nationo
Guard and the regular army with
view to making them one in sniri,
IN service, and possibly one day in de
termination quickly to become one sol
d'er organization for the winning O
war; If unhappily war shall come.
Weeks Tries RooseveIt's Method
Secretary Weeks apparently want
TO 90 as much in the way of prepar
edness as he can do with the mean
at his command. Some critics her
say that some Of the Republican men
bers OF congress who "cussed out" th
last administration for stacking aim
preparedness lines, are now nre
paredness slaekers themselves, #
possible, however, that the regu,a
army under pending legislation wi
be given 10000 more troops than I'll
house at first authorized.
If this is done it will be done unde
the insistence of the secretary of wa
who seems to have followed an o,
ample once set by Theodore Roos,