Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-12-03
CONSUMPTION IN Army or More
Paw To Men

annual report Issued today.
Notwithstanding the most strenuous
efforts on the part ct The War Depart
ment aud the recruiting officers says
General Ainsworth, ''it has been found
impossible wholly to make good the
losses, TO say nothing of increasing the
enlisted strength to the authorized linn
it, If present conditions continue
there will be nothing for the govern
ment to do but meet this competition
by materially increasing the soldiers
pay or to evade competition altogether
by resort to CONSUMPTION"
Never before has such suggestion
come from an officer clothed with the
authority to make recommendations
The idea of compulsory enrolment of
individuals for the military service has
been held abhorrent to republican
principles and the absence of such
law is one of the most forceful argu-
ments used in attracting desirable inn
migration from Europe.
Officials of the War Department an
ticipate that the possible necessity
for such action outlined. by General
Ainsworth will prove efiicacious in
securing consideration by Congress of
the increase of pay bill. 1t is with
the greatest reluctance that army
officers entertain the thought OF con-
scription, but generally they agree with
General Ainsworth that it either must
come to that extremity or more money
must be provided for the soldier if the
standing of the army is to be main
tanned The attitude of the War De-
partment toward officers VINO have
dared to criticise the increase of pay
bill has been largely based upon the
belief of high officials that it is abso-
lutely necessary that the bill shall be
passed at the coming session of Con-
gress. The department is determined
that no obstacle to its passage shall be
raised in any branch of the service.
Speaking of the difficulties met in re-
cruiting stations, General Ainsworth
says:
The reasons that induce men to en-
list in times of peace are numerous.
Some enter the service in spirit OF
adventure or to see the world and
some are attracted by display of uni
forms and parade. Whatever the in
centive may be, in many cases the
realization falls far short of the antici-
patton aud brings about spirit of dis
content More pay and less work will
aid materially in making the enlisted
man contented even if he does not find
the service in other respects to be what
he expected it would be.'-Chieago
Record Herald.
The above report of the adjutant
General should set the American peo-
pie thinking.
Is it going to pay this country to con-
tinue to support the republican policy
of the past eight years and co-amit the
United States to a colonial policy in the
Philippines
For one hundred and twenty years, or
until the war with Spain, nothing was
heard about eonscription and the
United States had little trouble in Sc
curing enlistments for the small army
needed by so powerful republic, com
mitted to traditional policy of mind
ing her own business and not inter
fering with foreign affairs.
The war with Spain found the repub-
lican party in power with an over
whelming majority and the democratic
party demoralzed. Glutted with
power and confident of their ability to
keep control by shouting the charge
that the democrats had brought the
panic of 1898 on the country, the repub-
lican leaders cut loose from the old
American traditions and adopted the
European policy of foreign colonial
possessions. Protests from leaders of
their own party, like the late Senator
Hoar, were met with cries of TRAITOR,
traitor ald organized opposition was
charged with" firing at our boys in the
Philippines from the rear" The minis
tiers of the gospel servants of the
Prince of Peace quite generally be-
came the allies of the republican party
in this new policy and from the pulpit
proclaimed the wisdom and foresight of
the Good old party in giving the
American people this opportunity of
carrying the blessing of christianity to
the Isles of the Sea- What has been
the result TO the isles. More natives
killed in the few years of American rule
than Spain killed in 200 years. The re-
suit to the United States, thousands of
American boys wiped out by disease;
thousands of American homes made
desolate; hundreds of millions of Amer
lean money wasted; and the country
far on the road to the un-American
policy which in the end means conscip-
ton.
How many of the sons of the repub
hcan leaders and their ministerial allies
enlisted to carry out the republicans
plany No, they didn't enlist and they
won't be conscripted. Following the
European model these sons will be pro-
vided with commissions and officer the
sons of the common people who are
eonscripted.
This is a good time to stop and think.
Present events tend to show us that the
dinner pail can get empty even, under
a republican administration and if the
republicans are wrong on their great
panic theory, i it not possible that they
are mistaken about our God sent OPP
portuuity in the far Easts'