The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-03-01

Dangerous Power IL Placed II the
Hands Of the Presi.
dent.

During the last campaign the demo
Gratis pointed out that republican sue
cess would encourage the party in
power to increase the standing army.
The republicans evaded the question
for the most part and, when they were
challenged 10 meet IL, resorted to SUBJ
terfuge and deception. They claimed
that the army then in service was made
necessary by the war In the Philippines
and called attention to the fact that the
increase expired by limitation in 1901.
They pretended to believe that the
army could be reduced before that
time il he republicans won the cleo
tion and the Filipinos were as.
sured that there would be no change in
the administration. These arguments
ought not TO have misled anyone be-
cause the president. two months be-
fore hostilities broke out at Manila,
asked for authority to raise the army
to 100000.
republican house of representa-
tives passed a bill giving him the au-
thority and the democrats and their
populist and silver republican allies in
|
the republicans were afterwards 80
anxious to hide behind. The
election resulted in republic
an victory even more pronounced
than the leaders Of that party
had expected. but the war in the Phil
ippines did not terminate, and then
the imperialists came out from under
cover and boldly demanded an increase
in the military esta blishment. A bill
was introduced hurried through the
house and senate and is now law.
The title Is a confession of cowardice.
1t is not a bill 10 increase the size of the
standing army. but bill ITO increase
the efficiency Of the permanent mill
tary establishment of the United
States" 1t provides that the army OF
the United States shall consist of Is
regiments of cavalry. corps ok aStil-
lery, 30 regiments of infantry. one
lieutenant general. six major generals,
Is brigadier generals etc. etc. etc.
Each regiment of cavalry and infantry
has one colonel, one lieutenant colonel.
three majors. IS captains. Is first lieu
tenants and IS second lieutenants. be-
sides sergeants. sergeant majors. cor
porals. etc.-the etc. including, among
other persons, privates ranging from
43 to T6 in each cavalry troop, and from
As to 1877 in each infantry company
, The president is given the dangerous
! power to increase the army TO the
, maximum, The number Of enlisted
men Is limited to 100000. The maxi
. mum Of enlisted men may include H..
600 natives to be enlisted in the Philip
pine islands il the president sees fit tc
. enlist them.
4 Ifanyone will read the bill complete
A and count the number of generals
q colonies, lieutenant colonies, majors
' captains. first lieutenants. second lieu
e tenants, adjutants, inspectors, quar-
q termasters and other officers with If
!. tenure. he can understand something
. Of the force which militarism can com
g mand in any legislative contest wit
d the taxpayers.
!. II is easier to increase an army, esps
cially the official part. than reduce i
and the people have before them dill
fcult task. but the burdens and menac
OF militarsm can be relied upon I
= arouse the people. When the awaker
ing comes il will be found that the pee
pie who profit by large military estai
lishment. however powerful its preser
% influence. are insignificant in number
:, compared with those who are injured
10 The Commoner.