Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-12-08

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| strong and disiutotosfcd power. able 10
| guarantee to the Islands order at home
and protection from foreign invasion.
Ferto Rico.
| again rc,ummer. that American cil-
l2cnship hc conferred upon the people Of
| Porto Rico.
Cuba.
| In cuba our occupancy will cease in
| about two months time. the CubanB
] have In orderly manner elected their own
| governmental authorities. and the island
| viii ho turned over to them our occu-
| patton ON this occasion has lasted n lit
| tle over two years. and Cuba has thriv-
en- and prospcrcd under it. our earnest
| hope and one desire is that tho people
of the island shall now govern them
solves with Justice. so that peace and or
| der may he secure
Japanese Exposition.
The Japanese government has post
| poned until 1917 the date OF the great
| international exposition, the action be-
| Ing taken so as Co insure ample time
| I'm which to prepare Co make the expo
| sition all that 20 should be made The
| American commissioners have visited
| Japan ana the postponcmont viii mere-
| ~ give umplcr opportunity FOR Ameri-
| ca TO be represented at the exposition.
| Not since the first International expo
| sitlon has there been ono OF greater
| Importance than this will be. marking.
as IL does. the nfticth anniversary Of
the ascension TO the throne OF the em-
| pcror OF Japan Tho extraordinary
leap TO the foremost place among the
nations Of tho world made by Japan
during this half century IS something
unparalleled in all previous history.
take this opportunity publicly 20
state my appreciation OF the way In
which In Japan, I'm Australia, In New
Zealand, and IN all the states OF South
America the battle fleet has been re-
| FQlWg1 lfu nruaflaa arn
the world. The American government
can not too strongly express its appre-
citation OF the aboundinF and generous
hospitality shown our ships in every
| port they visited.
The Army
AS regards the army / call attention
10 the fact that while our Junior off-
Gers and enlisted men stand very high,
| the present system OF promotion by
seniority results I'm bringing into the
higher grades many men OF mediocre
| capacity who have but short time 70
serve. No man should regard Il as his
vested right 60 rise to the highest rank
In the army any more than in any
other profession. IL IS curious and
by no means crcditablo fact that there
/, | should be so often failure on the
: | part OF the public and It's represonta-
| Uvcs to understand the great need.
| from the standpoint OF the service and
| the nation. OF rcfpsing 20 promote re-
spectacle. elderly incompetents The
| higher places should be given TO tho
most deserving men without regard to
| seniority; at least seniority should be
treated as only one consideration. In
q the stress Of modern Industrial COM
3 petition no business firm could succeed
e lf those responsible for its management
e were chosen simply on the ground that
n they were the oldest people In It's cm-
/ ployment; yet this Is the course advo-
y Gated as regards the army, and re-
q quired by law for all grades except
0 | those Of general officer. As n matter
I NJ fact all Of the best officers in the
HIGHEST ranks OF the army are those
who have attained their present posi-
tion wholly or in part by a process OF
selection.
The scope OF retiring boards should
he extended so that they could con-
slider general unhtncss TO command for
| any cause In order to secure a far more
. rigid enforcement than at present in
!, the elimination OF officers for mental.
physical or tcmpcrdtnental disabilities
: But this plan Is recommended only II
the congress does not see NJ 20 provide
, what in my Judgment Is far better.
that is for selection in promotion. and
for elimination for age. Officers who
; fall to attain a certain rank by n cer-
y tain age, should he retired-for In
stance, II man should not attain
; field rank by the time he Is IS ho
l. should OF course he placed on the re-
c tired list General officers should be
u selected as at present and one-third
u OF the other promotions should be
n made by selection. the selection TO be
made by the president or secretary OF
war from a list Of at least two candi-
dates proposed for each vacancy by q
e board OF officers from the arm OF the
service from which the promotion ID
-, : to be made. A bill Ia now before the
- congress having for its object TO Sc
- cure the promotion Of officers TO vari'
= Gus grades at reasonable ages through
=, a process OF selection. by boards OF OF
- ncers. of the least efficient for retire
y, mcnt with percentage Of their pay
- depending upon length OF service Tit
- bill. although not accomplishing al
that should be done, Is long step II
the right direction; and earnestl.
to recommend its passage. or that OF
ne more completely effective measure.
ne National Guard.
~ Now that the organized militia. IN
y, National Guard, has been incorporated
"a a. with the army as "A part OF the nationa
y forces IL behoovcs the government Z
"a do every reasonable thing in its powe
- TO perfect its efficiency. IL should b
3 | assisted in it's instruction and other
II wise aided more literally than hereto
W fore The continuous services OF man
80 well-trained regular officers VIII b
~ essential in this connection.
Sc bill is now pending before th
E officers in the army which II passe'
ne as Il ought to be, viii enable MOI
NJ officers TO be trained as instructors
National Guard and assigned TO IL
duty. In case Of war IL will be OF q
ed utmost Importance TO nave ~
ne number 0f trained officers 70 use
en- turning raw levtes into good tro' 0"'
nc The Navy.
We approve the r, Tor the
o. re- general board 'unx espec
Ie attt.t, Vi the navy. ca at ad
o. attention to the need ,nJs abe
Iohal destroyers and collers, y da,
an. OF the four battleships. IL ola
T. able TO complete as soon as poss
cs squadron OF eight battleships OF the
~ existing type,
IN l most earnestly recommend that ~.
a general board be by law turned into
Is general stan. There is literally no ex
10 cuse Whatever for continuing the nra.
nNaN KHHu