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 ieorganizing 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-fve 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
public Ii is brought out now to show the
necessity foran 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 t.centy-tlcO millions over last year.
It will! be difficult to get volunteers to go to
the Philippines. Soldering is a 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 as 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
Philippines are worth the cost in blood. dis
ease and treasure that is being spent 10 bold
the archipelago and is yet to be spent, ae-
cording to the report of General Macarthur
In the matter of cost the New York Tele-
gram has this excellent article;
al present, and for many years to come,
the necessity ofa large American military aud
naval force is too apparent 20 admit OF discus
sion"
So reports General Macarthur of The Phil
ippine situation aud outlook.
He further reports that during the first ten
months of this year the American losses were
26s killed, $50 wounded and So 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. 6reenleai'
ACCOMMODATING that Of General Macarthur,
the whole number Of deaths, including these
from disease, was 995 during the six months
ending with last July, or q daily average Of
Al. In June there we're 55j3 vi out Of a to
tai OF IS. 2S4. Regarding The mortality OF the
army. Colonel Greenleat writes The nun
Der Of deaths in the army has steadily IN
creased. and 4 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 tine Den become
more and more debiliiaIed by the tropical
service the more marked will become the
ratio Of deaths.
A Washington special 10 the Herald today
saws that 'spresent expenditures on account Of
this war are approximately at the rate Of
about SIZE, 600. 000 per year, and Their " 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 il the $50, OoO, 900 paid Spain Is mere
blgatelle. And the end IS not yet 1t Is not
even in sight In the sober judgment of Gen.
Macarthur the necessity OF large army aud
naval force for years to come Is too apparent
10 admit Of discussion.
Is the game worth the candle? Even sd
hitting that the United States wants the
Philippines, with its 100000 natives and
100 isles 1000 miles from our nearest coast,
will il pay to seek them at the price added to
the appealing cost already paid Of nearly five
lives and s., GOO, 0o9 day in struggle that
may prove as long and futile as that Of Spain
in the Philippines and Cubag