Arizona republican., 1901-12-04

prime reforms. all of them of literally inestimable value, are, first, the sub stitution of four-year details from the line for permanent appointments in the so- called staff divisions: second, the establishment of a corps of artil- lery with chief at the head; third the establishment of a maximum and mini mum limit for the army. It would be difficult to overestimate the improve ment in the efficiency of our army which these three reforms are mak- ing. and have in part already effected.
 The reorganization provided for by the act has been substantially accom- plshed. The improved conditions in the Philippines have enabled the war department materially to reduce the military charge upon our revenue and to arrange the number of soldiers SO as to bring this number much nearer to the minimum than to the maximum limit established by law. There is. however. need of supplementary legis- lation. Thorough military education must be provided. and in addition to the regulars the advantages of thls education should be given to the off, cers of the national guard and others in civil life desire intelligently to fit themselves for possible military duty.
 
 to perfect themselves by study in the higher branches of this art. At West Point the education should be of the kind most apt to turn out men who are good in actual field service ;too much stress should not be laid on mathema- tics. nor should proficiency therein be held to establish the right of entry to a corps d'elite. The typical American officer of the best kind need not be a good mathematician; but he must be able to master himself. to control oth- CTS. and to show boldness and fertility of resource in every emergency.
 VOLUNTEER SoLDIERY.
 Action should be taken in reference to the militia and to the raising of volunteer forces. Our militia law s obsolete and worthless. The organiza- tion and armament of the national guard of the several states. which are treated as militia in the appropriations by the congress, should be made identi- cal with those provided for the regular forces. The obligations and duties of the guard in time of war should be carefully defined, and a system estab- lished by law under which the meth- cd of procedure of raising volunteer forces should be prescribed in advance. It is utterly impossible in the excite ment and haste of impending war to do this satisfactorily If the arrangements have not been made long beforehand. Provision should be made for utilizing in the first volunteer organizations called out the training of those citi- gems who have already had experience under arms and especially for the se- lection in advance of the officers of any force which may be raised; for care full selection of the kind necessary is impossible after the outbreak of war.
 That the army is not at all mere in- strument of destruction has been shown during the last three years In the Philippines. Cuba. and Porto Rico it has proved itself great constructive force. most potent implement for the upbuilding of peaceful civilization.
 No other citizens deserve so well or the republic as the veterans. the sur vivors of those who saved the union. They did the one deed which if left 'undone would have meant that all else in our history went for nothing. But for their steadfast prowess In the greatest crisis of our history, all our annals would be meaningless. and our great experiment In popular freedom and self government a gloomy failure. Moreover. they not only left us unit ed nation, but they left us also herf- tage the memory of the mighty deeds by which the nation was kept united We are now indeed one nation, one in fact as well as in name: we are united in our devotion to the flag which is the symbol of national greatness and un- ity; and the very completeness of our union enables us all. in every part ot the country, to glory in the valor shown alike by the sons of the north and the sons of the south In the times that tried mems souls.
 The men who in the last three years have done so we'll in the east and the West Indies and on the mainland Of Asia have shown that this remembrance is not lost. In any serious crisis the United States must rely for the great mass of its fighting men upon the vol unteer soldiery who do not make a permanent profession of the military career: and whenever such crisis arises the deathless memories of the civil war will give to Americans the lift of lofty purpose which comes to those whose fathers have stood val iantly in the forefront of the battle.
 The merit system of making appoint rnerts is in it's essence as democratic and American as the common school system itself. It simply means that in clerical and other positions where the duties are entirely non-poiitfcai. all applicants should have fair field and no favor, each standing on his merits as he is able to show them by prac- tical test. Written competitive exam nations offer the only available means in many cases for applying this system. In other cases, as where labOrers are employed, a system of registration un- doubtedly can be widely extended. There are, of course, places where the written competitive examination can- not be applied, and others where it of- fers by no means an ideal solution. but where under existing political condi- tions it is, though an imperfect means, yet the best present means of getting satisfactory results.
 To THE, MERIT SYSTEM.
 Wherever the conditions have permit ted the anplica tinn of the merit system