Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-04-18
VOL. "a.

" 'X SEsf4ss8 the problem OF desertiOns from the
lISA\NEdA. army. The experiment is expen-
|&EEdSYYA sive bnt it is humane and sensible.
SSss3WyfE9EslY1 It consists merely in making the
enlisted mans life more comfort
able, healthy and pleasant. In this direction the
United States is already far ahead of every other
country, but still desertons all too frequent
ly. On this subject the Secretary OF War In his
recent annual report said:
'sThe loss of the government on account OF de-
sertons is roughly estimated by the chief OF staff a;
about 900 for the last year; it has been called the
'bane and disgrace of the army" Last year there
were 6,513 desertions from the army or 11.O7 pei
cent of the average entitled strength Of 1915 men
Even to a civilian these figures are suggestive
They tell of the dead mOnOtOny OF life at the army
posts; of the lack of suitable amusements; OF fail
Dure to provide proper sports and games for the
men, and general want of interest in them ana thell
i bodily and mental we'll being
4 The War Department has selected Fort LeaVen
worth the place to inaugarate reforms because II
is the largest infantry post in the United States
and offers particularly attractive field for Observa
tioD Of results. The LeavenwOrth Post a few days
ago made uhis observations "Ninety nine per cent
OF the privates have better sleeping quarters an0
better food than they had in civil life; thelI
barracks models OF sanitary construction; they
have porcelain lined bath tubs, lavatories OF slate
with running wateC and ckel-plated hxt0res; elec
tric lights in their bunks, lounging and dining
rOOmb, WARM U6u CIOUmlDS) UH0 uC5U anu WnA MCSO y
outer clothing for winter, good light and heavy I'M
derwear, fur gloves and fur caps and heavy over
shoes for winter marching; steam heated quarters,
reading room and good library. In each barracks
are pool and billiard tables, and the gymnasium
which is also used as an entertainment hall for en-
listed men, having large stage, drop curtains anC
scenery it. has in connection big swimming
pool where the men may swim both s0mmer anC
winter.77
With such a glowing account Of the provision
made for the enlisted men at Fort Leavenworth i
is hard to realize how they may become so dissatis
fed as to want to leave. Yet there are desertiOn
even from this model post. The reason given il
that, although such generous provision is made fol
the men, they are neglected to intelligent direc
tiOn in the employment of these fine resources They
have been given little no instruction In athleGcS
Now, however, the government has sent skilled
men there to organize athletics, to direct and en-
courage gymnasium work and in other ways e
keep the soldiers interested in their daily life. In
cidentally this makes better soldiers OF them as vel
as better individual men. The experiment will bt
kept up with such additions as experience may
suggest until the govern Ment has made the demon
stratioa complete. 1t is hoped thus to solve the
problem OF keeping the men in the army.
What is competency-this thing without which
all else is valueess9 1t is that invisible indesriba
BILE something which out OF brakesmah develops
railroad superintendent or president; that out o
an Office boy creates manager; that out OF a bank
messenger builds great fnancier; that ont OF al
observant telegraph operator produces an Edison
or of a studious lad MarcOni; and from dry
goods clerk makes Marshall Field. 1t Is some
thing which schools do not teach, s not always in
herited, and cannot be bought. But it can be &C
uuired in greater or less degree by any son OF
daughter of Adam who is willing to dig as he did
although not necessarily in the earth. Yet there
will always be- iailures for not heretofore
mentioned, viz: The vice OF speculation, which il
the name given to certain kinds OF gambling Othel
than that commonly so called. Speculation is, un
fortunately, not rare among men engaged In com
mercal occupations. In prosperous times many
such escape with their hide, but In time OF panic
or sharp depression in values, the number Of fail
ures due to speculation increases enormously anc
reveals the large number Of those who cannot resis
the temptation to dabble in futures. We have
called the indulgence in this thing vice, and sucl
it is. For the incompetent there is hope. Th'
other fellow is sometimes cured by a wound that Il
not fatal but the most part OF this kind finally e
down in q financial maelstrom.
According to the Western Publisher,. a sweet CIR
student thus described the manner in which goa
butted the boy out Of the front yard "He hurried
the previous end Of his anatomy against the boy'i
aiterWard with an earnestness and velocity which
backed by the pOnderosty Of the goats avoirdu
pois impaired momentum that was not relaxed
until the boy landed on terra frma beyond the pal'
Of the goats jurisdiction
Colonel Thomas Johnson, veteran Of the Mexi
can and Civil wars and said to be the last surviv
inp nemhersOf the Confederate congress, s dead II
Mount Sterlibg, KY, aged SO years. He had served
several terms as state senator and representative
TnIo,,nl Tohnaon who leaves large estate wa