Arizona republican., 1907-02-11

Military Academy, may find that he is not considered on the same social par with those who are regular graduates. 1 This condition of social affairs began with the establishment of the Military Academy. and the feeling will probObly remain for many years to come.
 Although the man in the ranks is not likely to rise higher than the posi- i tion of the non-commissioned officer I am persuaded tc believe that d large | proportion of our under clerks. our common labOrers, and many of our ser wants would be better off financially and otherwise, in the regular army than in doing what they are now un- successfully attempting to accomplish. Success in the ranks does not depend upon more than ordinary capacity.
 Any physically sound man. with a little
 education. and with moderate amount of intelligence. can successfully hold . the position of private soldier. He is
 under the discipline of a great system and becomes a part of a machine, a machine so perfectly regulated and so carefully run that it will successfully carry him, provided he is not a shirker. Loafers and lazy boys and men are
 not wanted in the army and they will not succeed in it. The army is not, and never should be considered, an asylum for worthless men and boys It is an institution necessary to the main
 tenance of our government. What it offers is worthy of the consideration of
 the ordinary man of good health. who
 has no special ability in a given di
 f,, h., H pt
 to obtain more comfort. and certainly a greater lack of care and responsibil
 ity. than in the ordinary walks of sub
 ordinate life.
 Each congressional district and ter ritory. including District of Columbia and Porto Rico is entitled to one cadet at the West Point Academy; each state is entitled to two; and, in addition, forty are allowed from the United States at large. Congressional dis triCt appointments are made upon the recommendation of congressman. state appointments upon the recommenda- tions of state senators and territorial appointments upon the recommenda- tions of congressional delegates. It is
 necessary that each appOintee be an actual resident of the district. state, or territory upon which the appoint ment is made. The appointments at large. and for the District of Columbia and Porto Rico are made by the Presi-
 dent of the United States. and the ap- pointees may reside in any part of the Union. The appointment must. by law. be made a year in advance of the date of admission, except where a va cancy occurs by reason of death or
 other causes. Each candidate. before
 he can be admitted to the Academy, must prove by examination, or present certificates of proficiency from recog-
 nized educational institutions. that he is well-versed in reading. writing, spell
 ing. English grammar. English compo-
 sition English literature arithmetic, algebra through quadratic equations
 plain geography. descriptive geography, especially the geography of the United States. United States history. and the general principles of physiol
 ogy and hygiene. No one can be ad- mitted who is under seventeen or over
 twenty-two years of age, who is de- formed or afflicted with any disease or infirmity liable to render him unfit for
 military service or who has at the time of presenting himself any disorder of