The Ordway new era., 1908-12-11

to continue under the protection OF .
strong and disinterested power. able to
guarantees to the islands order at homs
and protection from foreign invasion.
Porto Rico.
! again recommend that American cit-
izenship be conferred upon the people OF
Porto Rico.
In Cuba our occupancy will cease In
about two months time; tho cubans
have in orderly manner elected their own
governmental authorities. and tho island
VIII be- turned over to them. Our occu-
patton on this occasion has lasted a ut-
tic over two years, and Cuba has thirty
en- and prospcred under IL. Our earnest
hopo and one desire Is that the peopia
of the island shall now govern them
selves with Justice. so that peace and or
der may be secure.
Japanese Exposition.
The Japanese government has post
poned until 1917 the date Of the great
Internal tlonal exposition. the action be-
Ing taken so as to insure ample time
In which 10 prepare to make the expo
sitIon all that II should be made. Tho
American commissioners have visited
Japan and the postponement will mere
ly give ampler opportunity for Ameri-
ca TO be represented at tho exposition.
Not since the first International expo
sitlon has there been one of greater
Importance than this VIII be. marking.
as II does. the nftleth anniversary of
the ascension to the throne of the en-
pcror OF Japan. Tho extraordinary
leap TO the foremost place among tho
nations OF the world made by Japan
during this half century is something
unparalleled In all previous history.
take this opportunity publicly TO
state my appreciation OF tho way IN
which In Japan. In Australia. In New
Zealand, and In all the states of South
America. the battle noct has been re-
cciv"d on It's practice voyage around
tn" world The American government
can not too strongly express Its nppre-
citation nf the nbouu'iinE and generous
hospitality shown our ships In every
port th"y visited
The Army.
As regards III" army 1 call attention
to the fact that while our junior on
GERS and enlisted men stand very high
tn" present system uf promotion by
S"niurity results in bringing into the
higher grni"H many men OF mediocre
capacity VIII" hav" nut n short time to
serve. No man should regard IL as his
vested right to ris. to tho highest rank
In the army any more than In any
other profession. II Is - curious and
by no means crcditnbl. fact that thor.
should he 80 often n failure on the
part OF the public and It's representa-
tIvcs to understand the great need
from the standpoint OF the service and
the nation Of refusing to promote re-
spectacle. elderly Incompetence. Tn.
higher places should he given to tho
most d. serving men without regard To
seniority: nj least seniority should be
treated ns only on. consideration. In
the stress nf modern Industrial com
petition No business firm could succeed
II those Responsible FOR Its management
were chosen simply on the ground that
they were III" oldest people In Its en-
pl"ym"nt: yet this is the course advo.
Gated ns regards tn" army. and
uuircd by law FOR all grades except
those of general officer. AZ n matter
Of fact all OF the best officers in the
highest ranks "f the army are those
who hnv" attained their present posi-
tion wholly ar In part by process Of
selection.
Tho scop. "f retiring boards should
be extended w that they could con
slider general untitn"ss 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 t"mp"ramcntal disabilities.
i!ut this plan is recommended only IL
the congress does not see ft to provide
what in my judgment is far better.
, that IL. for selection in promotion. and
for elimination for age. Officers who
fail to attain certain rank by GER
tain age. should be rctired-for in
stance. IL man should not attain
field rank by the time he Is As 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 bo
made by selection the selection to be
made by the president secretary OF
war from list of at least two candi-
dates proposed for each vacancy by =
board OF officers from the arm OF the
service from which the promotion 10
to be made. a bill Is now before the
congress having for its object to Sc
euro the promotion OF officers to vari
Gus grades at reasonable ages through
n process of selection. by boards of Of
hcers. of the least efficient for retire.
ment with percentage of their pay
depending upon length of service. The
bill. although not accomplishing all
| that should be done. Is "A long step in
the right direction; and 1 earnestly
recommend Its passage. or that of a
| more completely effective measure.
National Guard.
Now that the organized militia, the
| National Guard. has been incorporated
| with the army as a part of the national
| forces, it behooves the government to
do every reasonable thing in its power
| to perfect its efficiency. 1t 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 be
essential in this connection. a
congress creating a number of extra
| officers in the army. which II passed.
| as it ought to be. will enable more
| officers to be trained as instructors OF
National Guard and assigned to that
| duty. In case of war it will be of the
| utmost Importance to have large
| number of trained officers to use for
| turning raw levies into good troops.
The Navy.
approve the recommendations OF
the general board for the In
crease of the navy. calling especial
attention to the need of addi-
tional destroyers and colliers. and above
| ALL of tho four battleships 1t Is desir-
| able to complete as soon possible
| squadron of eight battleships of the best
| existing type.
1 most earnestly recommend that the
| general board be by law turned into
| general staff. There Is literally no ex-
cuse whatever for continuing the pres
ant bur Ian, ~ flaox