Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-05-08
Policy.


happen in this twentieth century
civilization which may properly
ome under the above caption.
Seldom is bill introduced into
congress or one of our state legis-
latures but what the debates
thereon, and the final vote making
the bill law, or causing It's de-
feat. are based along the lines of
policy.
The question does not seem to
arise as to the right or wrong of a
measure, but only GLOW will it
affect the party's chance for sue
cess in the next campaign or
"What will be the effect of MY vote
or influence for or against the
measure, upon MY chances for re-
election" and all too often the
most potent arguments are not as
ito whether or no the measure is a
desirable one, but openly made a
question of individual or party
policy.
And the same is true of US as a
nation; and notof US alone but we
note the same tendency in all ma
lions. international diplomacy is
conducted with view to securing
real or fancied advantage, in
exactly the same manner as two
sharpers conduct horse trade.
SO, too, is President or governor
approached with the same line of
argument when official action is
desired or the same wished with
held. The same principles to
certain extent permeate our entire
social system, and asserts itself in
our individual actions. a man
does not ask himself the question,
els this line of action right or
wrong,' but rather "Is it policy"
Would it not be desirable to try
and weigh every action by the
standard of right and wrong and
follow the simple motto "Do
right for the love of right?"
Another peculiar thing | have
noted is this: When General Miles
submitted his proposition for the
pacitication Of the Philippine in
surgents to the war department,
and made the statement that the
war was being conducted with
"extreme severity he was
drought up standing" on the
ground that his utterances con-
stituted insubordination and that
his proposition cast reflections
upon those in command in the
islands, and yet since then testi-
mony has been adduced of such a
startling nature of certain prac-
tices in the conduct of the war
that a count martial has been
called to try one of the generals
for the very thing charged by
General Miles
The question naturally presents
itself, Is i, or can it be insub-
ordination to tell the truth? If
so then no soldier in the ranks
dare speak of the actions or orders
of his superiors, no matter how
heinous such orders or actions
may be, without being guilty Of
characterization.
Again when General Miles was
regularly called before a Senate
committee and asked to express
an opinion upon q proposed meas
ure, and did 80, the howl went out
that his expressed views were
detrimental to army discipline,
and it seems to be only on account
of policy that the General has not
been asked to resign his position.
Now if these positions are cor
rect, we would respectfully ask,
how is the evidence against Gen
Smith to be procured, for it will
certainly be insubordination for q
subordinate to testify against bic
general, and his testimony would
be detrimental to army discipline,
and the same principle carried a
little farther would enable every
employer in the United States to
seal the lips of his employees so
far as divulging any of his short
coming was concerned.
Would these conditions be de-
sirable? We think not.
AID AsTRA.