Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-08-31
SAFE AND SUFFICIENT ARMY,

OF 1904 ii the statement. we favor
the reduction Of the army and army
Expenditure 70 q point historically
demonstrated TO be safe and suffici.
emit. Could anything be- more
beautifully indefinite Or meaningless
than Historically demonstrated 10 be
safe and sufficient
As q matter of fact the democratic
party historically speaking, has stood
for 4 larger army Than the republican
party Of the eight presidents who
have increased the army BIZ presiden,
tlal recommendation. five were elect.
ga hy tho present democratic party
or III f%orernnner, and one of tho five
waa Thomas jefferson. rfe father 81
all true democrats and The originator
OF sJefferaonian simplicity I
The current number Of Harper's
Weekly contains On article by Ruth.
erford corbin, under the caption.
What Iii Il aafe and Sufficient Army
which reveals the Inconsistency of
the language u The democratic plat.
form builders Iii Ii most conciae man.
ner. He gives Il table showing Tho
prop0ftionate size OF the army thro
all the presidential administrations
from Washington down to Roosevelt,
estimated On the basis III the nun.
ber VI soldiers 10 10000 inhabitants.
The figures are Or course taken On
i peace basis. Tho abnormal enlarge.
mefta Of Tho army III Time pf war
not being taken into consideration as
II would throw no light on ihe
question d 3 To What had been hist
forieally demonstrated To- hi aafe and
sufficient This table shows that
Washington started out with SIG sol.
diars 70 every 10000 81 population.
This proportion was slightly dimin.
ished IN Adams and increased 10 1871
tbs Jefferson Following Jefferson,
Madison raisad ii again until there
were Ill soldiers for every 10000 of
population which Il tho highest figure
reached III Tho hlstory af the United
States. Under M democratic admin.
isttgatiun hus thc army been reduced
except under Monroe who Was, elect
Ell u office III all Of hls ednntry.
men regardless of party. and by Polk,
who added i iieW regiment lint rednc
81 81 etotal number slightly
kt the outbreak Of Tho war with
Spain. President Mckinley had the
smallest army III proportion Id pop
nIation III the history of tl,e country,
heing only BIT soldiers FOR aach 10000
III Inhabitants This wac The army
NJ $4,000 men which Ind boon es.
tahliRlea during Grants aamiuistfa
tim and ha4 remained liked during
nine presidential terms. seven ~
which were filled lin republican presl.
deuts. During this period u over
q third of 4 century. the population
III the country Ind yaatly increased.
the United States had advanced Is i
commanding position among the pow
ers 81 the World. her resources. her
wealth md her interests had multi
piled many fold. but The country hay
lng enjoyed d long, unbroken peace.
The use III Importance of iii army
anywhere proportionate 20 her popn
lntion was forgotten. The wnr with
Spain walked the country iii.
The inadeqnacy 81 nh army Of 2s,
900 mel 70 both police md defend the
interests Of d nation Of I 1000, 900 of
population began to be apparent. and
In response TO 4 general and emphat
q demand, Mr.. Roosevelt recommend,
cd and congress passed an act proyid
Ing for q flexible army or i maxi.
mum Of 100000 md d minimum or
$1,000 men. The army was recruit.
Cd 20 this minimum figure In October
1902. and by President Rooseyelt's OF.
der has since then been hold ut this
number. This gives TIC soldiers ID
10000 of population against SO which
the father 81 hls country maintained
IL time Of peace or M average of ~
during tho first thirty years of the
nations history.
Mr.. Roosevelt III historically vol
within what has been considered to
Dc d safa and sufficient army and
what Il more u tho point he Inns not
exceeded what hIs e~ountrymen be-
iicye 20 81 tho smallest army which
Il adequate and reasonable fur The
present requirements II this nation.
some " The Canadians ire nov
pointing the finger IL scorn III hi
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