Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-12-10

I again recommend the extension Of
tho ocean mall act OF 1891 20 that salts.
factory American ocean mail lines TO
South America. Asia. the Philippines.
and Australasia may be established.
Hawaii.
call particular attention TO the Ter
ritory Of Hawaii The Importance Of
those islands h apparent and tho need
Of Improving their condition and de-
veloping their Resources is urgent.
The Philippines.
Real progress toward self. govcrnmen,
Is being made In the Philippine islands
trust that within generation
tho time will arrive when tho Philippines
can decide for themselves whether " II
well for them to bcrnmr independent. or
TO continue under the protection q
strong and disintere-ted power able to
guarantee to the islands order at home
and protection from foreign Invasion.
Porto Rico.
again recommend that American cit
iEenship he conferred upon the people of
Porto Rico
Cuba
In Cuba our occupancy viii cease In
about two months time. tho Cubans
have In orderly manner elected their own
governmental authorities. and tho island
will be turned over to them. our occu-
patton on this occasion has lasted n ut
tie over two years. and Cuba has tiriv-
en- and prospcrcd under a. our earnest
hope and one desire IL that the people
OF tho island shall now govern them
selves with Justice. so that peace and or
der may be secure.
Japanese Exposition.
poned until 1919 the date of the great
international exposition. the action be-
ing taken so as TO insure ample time
in which 20 prepare to make the expo
sition all that II should be made The
American commissioners have visited
Japan and the postponement viii mere
ly give amplcr opportunity for Ameri-
ca TO be represented At the exposition.
Not since the FIRST international expo
sition has there been one OF greater
Importance than this will be- marking.
as II does. the nfticth anniversary of
the ascension 10 the throne % the EN-
peror Of Japan The extraordinary
leap to the foremost place among the
nations Of the world made by Japan
during this half century l. something
unparalleled In all previous history,
take this opportunity publicly 20
state my appreciation of the way in
Zealand. and in all the states Of South
America. the battle fleet has been re-
ceived on It's practice voyage around
the world. The American government
can not too strongly express It's appre-
citation Of the abounding and generous
hospitality shown our ships In every
port they visited.
The Army.
As regards the army 7 call attention
to the fact that while our tunior ON
GERS and enlisted men stand very high.
the present system Of promotion by
seniority results in bringing into TIE
higher grades many men % rss~t-er.
capacity who have but sh~. time TO
serve. No man should regard II as his
vested right 20 rise TO the highest rank
In the army any more than in any
other profession. II H. a curious and
by no means crcditahle fact that there
should be 80 often \ failure on the
part of the public and It's representa-
tives to understand the great need.
from the standpoint ot the service and
the nation. ~ refusing 10 promote rs-
spectacle. elderly incompetentS The
higher places should he given to the
most deserving men without regard TO
seniority. at least seniority should he
treated as only one consideration. In
the stress Of modern Industrial COM
petition no business frm could succeed
IL those responsible for its management
were chosen simply on the ground that
they were the oldest people In its EN-
ployment: yet this Is the course advo-
Gated as regards the army. and re-
quired by law for all grades except
those Of general Officer As matter
OF fact all of the best officers In the
highest RANKS of the army are those
who hav" attained their present posi-
L. 49, N.a asf
selection.
The scope % retiring boards should
be extended so that they could con-
slider general unftncss to command for
auv cause in order to secure a far more
rigid enforcement than at present in
the elimination Of officers for mental.
physical or temperamentai disabilities.
But this plan Is recommended only II
the congress does not see 1T TO provide
what In my Judgment Is far better.
that Is for selection in promotion. and
for elimination for age. Oricers who
fail TO attain "A certain rank by GER
tain age should be retired-fOr In
stance. " man should not attain
field rank by the time he Is Is he
should OF course be placed on the re-
tired list General officers should be
selected as at present. and one-third
of the other promotions should be
made by selection. the selection to be
made by the president or secretary of
war from list Of at least two candi-
dates proposed for each vacancy by a
board OF officers from the arm OF the
service from which the promotion Is
| TO be made 4 bill ts now before the
congress having for it's object TO Sc
cure the promotion OF officers to vari-
Gus grades at reasonable ages through
n process Of selection. by hoS-s.s OF Of
fcers, OF the least efficient for retire
ment with a percentage Of their pay
| depending upon length of service. The
; bill. although not accomplishing all
that should be done. Is long step in
the right direction. and l earnestly
recommend its passage. ~ that ~ q
i more completely effective measure.
National Guard.
Now that the organized militia. the
1 National Guard has been incorporated
with the army as a part OF the national
| forces. IL behOoves the government "a
do every reasonable thing in its power
| to perfect its efficiency. II should be
assisted in its instruction and other
| wise aided more literally than hereto
fore. The continuous services OF many
| well trained regular officers will b.
| essential in this connection
| bill IL now pending before th'
congress creating number Of extra
|
as il ought to be. will enable NOR,
officers TO be trained as instructors OF
National Guard and assigned TO that
duty. In case OF war IL will be of th'
utmost Importance to have a large
number OF trained officers to use FOL
turning raw levies into good troops.
The Navy.
approve the recommendations o.
| the general board for the in
crease OF the navy. calling especia
attention to the need OF add
tionai destroyers and colliers. and above
all. OF the four battleships. IL Is desir
able to complete as soon as possible 1
squadron OF eight battleships Of the bes
| existing type.
! / most earnestly recommend that thu
general board be by law turned into I
4 general stan. There Is literally no ex
| cuse whatever for continuing the pres
a,t h,.raau orvauizafIon Of the navy TIL,