The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-11-17
Not a Campaign Bugaboo.

Hanna organs and orators declared militia
rism a Democratic bugaboc. The result of
the election was scarcely announced before
as many as four plans for Ieorganlzing and
enlarging the army were made public by mil
itary officers, Senators and Representatives
And Major General Macarthur, in command
at Manila, says the sixty-ive thousand SOL
diers in the Philippines will be needed there
indefinitely The report was made some
weeks ago, but has just been given TO the
pubIic. II is brought out now to show the
necessity for an increase in the army.
The navy is to be increased, too. The
Secretary ofthe Navy estimates the cost to
maintain the naval establishment this year at
over eighty-seven millions of dollars, an in
crease of Twenty-Five millions over last year.
II will! be difficult to get volunteers to go to
the Philippines. Soldering is hard bust
ness at best, but it is worse in the Philippines
many times over than it would be at home.
Disease is almost as fatal bullets.
If volunteers are not forthcoming the men
well have to be drafted, and many journals
that did not believe much in the talk of mill
tarism are beginning to consider whether the
Pb;lippiues are worth the cost in blood, dis
ease and treasure that is being spent TO hold
the archipelago aud is yet 10 be spent. ac-
cording to the report of General Macarthur.
In the matter of cost the New York TeIe.
gram has this excellent article:
AT present. and for many years to come,
the necessity of u large American military and
naval force is too apparent to admit OF discus
sion.'
So reports General Macarthur of the Phil
ippine situation and outlook.
He further reports that during the first ten
months of this year the American losses were
26S killed, $50 wounded and 55 taken prison.
ers-a total of 1913. This covers only half
the period of the war, and does not include
the deaths from disease which are to be num-
bered by hundreds, if not thousands.
According to the report of Col. Greenleaf,
ACCOMMODATING that of General Macarthur,
the whole number of deaths, including those
from disease, was 995 during the six months
ending with last July, or a daily average OF
At. In June there were 55G3 i'll out oi "a To.
tai of 63, 2S4. Regarding the mortality Of the
army, Colonel Greenleaf writes: ''The mum
Der Oh uedin5 Ill SiTduhl m-
creased, and IA diminution of the death rate
can scarcely be expected. The number OF
men shot from ambush by small guerrilla bands
now exceeds those killed at any previous time,
and as time progresses and the men become
more and more debilitaied by the tropical
service the more marked will become the
ratio of deaths"
A Washington special to the Herald today
says that "present expenditures on account OF
this war are approximately at The rate oil
about SIP, 900. 900 per year, and there is no
reason to predict any material decrease within
the next twelve months unless conditions shall
improve much more rapidly than General
Macarthur and others believe possible"
This gives some idea OF the terrible cost in
blood and treasure of the war. Compared
with it the $40, 600, 900 paid Spain is a mere
blgatele. And the end is not yet. 1t is not
even in sight. In the sober Judgment of Gen.
Macarthur the necessity OF II large army and
naval force for years to come is too apparent
to admit of discussion.
Is the game worth the candle? Even ad-
hitting that the United States wants the
Philippines, with its 10,000,0 900 natives and
1900 isles 1000 miles from our nearest coast,
will it pay to seek them at the price added to
the appalling cost already paid Of nearly five
lives and 81, 900, 600 day in struggle that
may prove as long and futile as that of Spain
in the Philippines and Cuba?