Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-12-04

merce. But before using this it ought
certainly to enact model laws on the
subject for the territories under Its
own immediate control.
Presidential Campaign Expenses.
Under our form Of government vot-
ing is not merely a right, but duty,
and, moreover, fundamental and nee
essary duty if man is to be good
citizen. 1t is well to provide that cor
porations shall not contribute 10 presi-
dental or national campaigns and, fur
thermore, to provide for the publica-
ton of both contributions and expendi-
lures. There is, however, always dan
ger in laws of this kind, which from
their very nature are difficult of en-
forcement. the danger being lest they
be obeyed only by the honest and dis
obeyed by the INSCRIPTIONS, so as to
act only as penalty upon honest men.
Moreover, no such law would hamper
an INSCRIPTIONS man Of unlimited
means from buying his own way into
Office. There is a very radical meas
ure which would, believe, work a
substantial improvement in our sys-
TEN of conducting a campaign, al
though l am well aware that it will
take some time for people so to famil-
iarize themselves with such proposal
as to be willing to consider its adop-
ton. The need for collecting large
campaign funds would vanish If con-
gress provided an appropriation for the
proper and legitimate expenses Of each
of the great national parties, an appro-
priation ample enough to meet the ne
cessity for thorough organization and
machinery. which requires a large ex-
penditure of money. Then the stipu-
lation should be made that no party
receiving campaign funds from the
| treasury should accept more than n
fixed amount from any individual sub
scriber or donor, and the necessary
| publicity for receipts and expenditures
could without difficulty be provided.
The Army.
The president recommends legisla.
ton to increase the number OF officers
in the army, especially in the medical
corps. The rate of pay Of officers
should be greatly increased, he de-
clares There should be q relatively
even greater increase in the rate of
| pay of enlisted men IL we are to keep
the army in shape to be effective in
time Of need. The president recon.
mends severe examination of officers
for promotion up to the rank Of major.
From that point promotion should be
purely by selection. He speaks Of the
recent physical test of army officers
with emphatic appreciation and recon-
mends n bill equalizing the pay of
officers and men of the army, navy,
marine corps and revenue cutter serv-
ice.
Tho Navy.
Concerning the navy the president
says:
In my judgment, we should this
year provide for four battleshlps. But
1t is idle to build battleships unless, in
addition to providing the men and the
means for thorough training, we pro
vide the auxiliaries for them-unless
we provide docks, the coaling stations
the Golfers and supply ships that they
need. We are extremely deficient in
coaling stations and docks on the Pa
cific, and this deficiency should moi
longer be permitted to exist Plenty
of torpedo boats and destroyers should
he built. Both on the Atlantic and Pa
cific coasts Notifications Of the bes
type should be provided for all oul
greatest harbors.
Until our battle fleet is much largel
than at present it should never be spill
into detachments so far apart that they
could not in event of emergency b.
speedily united. Our coast line is OIL
the Pacific just as much as on the At
lantic. The battle fleet should nov
and then be moved to the Pacific, jus
as ut other times it should be kept il
the Atlantic. When the isthmian cana
is built the transit of the battle flee
from one ocean to the other will b,
comparatively easy. Until 1t is bull
I earnestly hope that the battle fee
will be thus shifted between the twt
oceans every year or two. The BATH
; fleet is about starting by the strait o
Magellan to visit the Pacific coast
Sixteen battleships are going under tn
command of Rear Admiral Evans, Will
eight armored cruisers and two othe
battleships will meet him in San Fran
cisco, whittier certain torpedo destroy
ers are also going. No fleet Of sue
size has ever made such q voyage, an
it will be of very great educational us
! to all engaged in 1t. The only way b
which to teach officers and men hoy
to handle the fleet so as to meet ever
possible strain and emergency in tim
: Of war is to have them practice unde
similar conditions in time Of peace.
The president recommends the il
creased pay for both officers and enlis
6 ed men and advises promotion by S,
l. lection above the grade Of lieutenar
Il commander.
II Foreign Affairs.
J. In foreign affairs, the president say
r this country's steady policy is to b
e have toward other nations as stron
&c and self respecting man should bella,
Is toward the other men with whom l
!, Is brought into contact. In other word
" our aim is disinterestedly to help 9th,
s. nations where such help can be wise
r. given without the appearance of me-
Al ding with what does not concern u
r to be careful to act as good neighb'
N and at the same time in good nature
st fashion to make it evident that we 1
If not intend to be imposed upon.
ID The president refers ut length to II
~ Hague peace conference. He believ
IS 1t accomplished much good work.
III Postal Savings Banks.
% The president says on postal affair
l commend to the favorable consl
" Grafton of the congress postal 50
% ings bank system as recommended
~ the postmaster general. Timid depo
- tors have withdrawn their savings t
he the time being from national banl
- trust companies and savings banks,
,e dividuals have boarded their ca