Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-12-10
sLawRsRd Farm
GATES
are Strong, Beau
tiful and Cheap.
HODGE BROTHERS, Abilene, Kansas
PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS.
Continued from page y

proven our faith BY eur deeds. We
have behaved, and are behaving. to-
wards other nations. ~ IN private life
an honorable man weuid behave to-
wards his fellows.
I Latln-AmsrIcan Republics.
The commercial and material prog
ress Of the 30 Latino msrican republics
IL worthy Of the careful attention Of
the congress. The Intsfnational Bureau
OF the American Republics 10 doing q
useful work In making these nations
and their resources better known 70
", and IN acquainting them not only
with us 20 Q people and with eur pur-
poses towards them. but with what We
have to exchange for their goods
/ Panama Canal.
: The work on the Panama canal 10 be-
ing done with speed, efficiency and
entire devotion TO duty. which make it
q model for al work Of the kind. The
men on che Iathmus, afrom Col. GeOthals
And his fellow commissionerB through
the entire List Of employees who are
faithfully doing their duty. have won
their right 10 the ungrudging respect
and gratitude Of the American people.
Ocean Mall Lines.
again recommend the extension Of
the ooean mail act Of 1891 20 that salts.
factory American ocean mall lines to
gouth America, Asia, the Philippines,
and Australasia may be established.
Hawaii.
call particular attention to the Ter.
Titory OF Hawaii. The importance OF
those Islands 10 apparent and the need
Of imprOving their condition and de-
VoIOping their resources IL urgent.
The Philippines.
neal progress toward self-Govornmsnt
II k0bng made In the Philippine islands
4 tkISt tkAt within Q generation
The 0mo will arrive when the Philippines
60 Aboido tos themselves whothee u y
well for them to become Independent, 81
to continue under the protection Of Q
strong and disinterested power, able to
guarantee to the islands order ct homo
and protection from foreign invasion.
Porto Rico.
I again recommend that American cit.
issnship DO conferred upon the people Of
Porto Rico.
In Cuba our occupancy win cease ID
about two months time: the CubaMs
have In orderly manner elected tholF OWn
gcvsrnmsntal authorities, aad the islaad
win he sugRA1 over 10 them. Our oOcSls
patton oA this occasion has lasted . llt.
tie ever two years, and Cuba hes thrlv-
% and pFosDeFsd under II. Our earnest
hope and 0nO desire 10 that the people
o. the iaiaAG shalt now govern them.
selves with Justice, 20 that poacs and Or.
Der may b secure. .
japanese Exposition.
Tho JapenOOO governmeMt has post.
noAOd uatiI 1917 the ds.o Of the great |
ozpositlon. the action be. |
Inc taken 90 a. 10 insure ample time |
In which 10 prepare 70 make the expo.
litiOA all that II should b. made. The |
American eoWmissioAofs have visited |
yopAM ana the postponoment will mere. |
u Give ampler opportunity for Ameris
70 70 be represented at the exposition.
Not since the first international expo.
Bition has there been one Of greater
Importance than this Will be, marking.
10 II does, the flftieth anniversary Of
he ascension to the throne OF the em-
peroT Of Japan. The extraordinary
leap TO the foremost place among the
nations OF the world made By Japan
auring this half century II something
unparalleled In all previous history.
take this opportunity publicly 10
state my appreciation Of the way in
which in Japan, In Australia, In New
the battle feet has been re-
,eived on ita practice voyage areund
he world. The American government
AN not too strongly express its appre-
station Of the Astounding and generous
hospitality shown our ships In eveTT
port they visited. ~
The Army.
Al regards the army call attention
10 the fact that while our junior on
,ers and enlisted men stand very high,
The present system of promotion By
seniority results In bringing into the
higher grades many men OF mediocre
capacity who have but q short time Ia
serve. No man should regard II as his
rested right to rise to the highest rank
In the army any more than in any
oth0r profession. IT IL a curious and
BY no means creditAble fact that there
should be so often . failure on the
part Of the public and Its representa-
lives to understand the great need.
from the standpoint OF the service ana
The nation. Of refusing TO promote re-
,pectAble elderly incompetsnts. The
higher places should be given to the
most deserving men without regard 10
SNuAONlNJ0 Ut vast oGHAVEANy aHouAu ~
treated as only one consideration. In
The stress OF modern Industrial COM
petition no business firm could succeed
Il those responsible for its management
we're chosen simply on the ground that
they were the Oldest people in Its em-
ployment; yet this 10 the course advo-
sated as regards the army, and re-
luired by Law for. all. Era6ea s1nsDt
nose OF genefaFofiicsf; As matter
II fact all OF the best oficers in the
highest ranks Of the army are those
who have attained their present posi-
tioA wholly or In part BY process Of
SELECTION.
The scope Of retiring boards should
Do extended so that they could con-
Iider general unftnens to command for
my Gauss, in order to secure a far more
rigid enforcement than at present IN
he elimination Of ohcers for mental,
physical or temperamental disabilities.
But this plan Ii recommended only II
he congress does not see nj to provide
What IN my Judgment IL far better,
hat IL. fer selection In promotion. and
Tor elimination for age omcerH who
all to attain a certain rank BY q GER
ain age should be retired-for In
Itance. II q man should not attain
ieid rank By the time he 10 Is he
lhouid OF course Be placed on the re-
ired list General omeern should be
rejected as at present and one-third
u the other promotions should be
made By selection. the selection TO Be
made By the president or secretary Of
var from q list Of a. Lear two eandi-
Iataa proposed fer each vacancy By q
,oard Of omccrs from the arm Of the
Iarvics from which the promotlon 10
o Be- made. A bill r. nov before the
iongrsrs having for "a object TO se-