Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-12-10

worse than folly to try to set down
such a date in advance, for it must de-
pend upon the way in which the Phil
ippine people themselves develop the
power of self-mastery.
A Hint TO Cuba.
The president again recommends
that American citizenship be confer
red upon the peop,e of Porto Rico. In
Cuba our occupancy will cease in
about two months time; the Cubans
have in orderly manner elected their
own governmental authorities, and The
island will be turned over to them.
Our occupation on this occasion has
asted little over two years, and
Cuba has thrived and prospered IA
der 1t. Our earnest hope and one de-
sire is that the people of the island
shall now govern themselves with jus
tice, so that peace and order may be Sc
cured. I'VE will gladly help them to
this end; but l would solemnly warn
them to remember the great truth that
the only way people can permanent
~ avoid being governed from without
| is to show that they both can and will
govern themselves from within"
The Army.
AS regards the army the president
calls attention to the fact that while
our junior officers and enlisted meG
stand very high, the present system Of
promotion by seniority results in bring
ing into the higher grades many men
of mediocre capacity who have but
short time to serve. No man should
regard it as his vested right to rise
to the highest rank in the army anv
more than in any other profession It
is a curious and by no means credit
able fact that there should be so often
failure on the part of the public and
! its representatives to understand the
great need from the standpoint Of the
service and the nation. OF refusing to
promote respectable, elderly incompe-
tents. The higher places should he
given to the most deserving men with
| out regard 10 seniority.
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 it's power
TO perfect its efficiency. 1t should be
assisted in it's 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 Such of
! fiCerS must be specially trained at
service schools best to qualify them
as instructors of the guard But the
detailing of officers for training at the
service schools and for duty with the
national guard entails detaching them
from their regiments which are al
ready greatly depleted by detachment
of officers for assignment to duties pre-
sCribed by acts of congress. A bill is
pending before congress creating a
number of extra officers in the army,
which. if passed, will enable more Off
GERS to be trained as instructors of
| guard and assigned to that duty. In
case of war it will be of the utmost inn
| pOrtanCe to have a large number of
trained officers to use for turning raw
! be Legislation to provide a complete
plan for organizing the great body of
volunteers behind the regular army
and national guard when war has
come. Congressional assistance should
| be given those who are endeavoring to
promote rife practice so that our men,
| in the services or out of them, may
know how TO use the rifle. We should
encourage rifle practice among school
boys, and indeed among all classes as
we'll as in the military services. Thus
and not otherwise, may we be able to
assist in preserving the peace OF the
world.
The president approves the recon-
mendations Of the general board for
the increase of the navy, calling espe-
cal attention to the need of additional
destroyers and GOLFERS, and above ALL
of the four battleships. 1t is desirable
to complete as soon as possible a
squadron of eight battleships Of the
| best existing type. The North Dakota,
| Delaware, Florida and Utah will form
the first division Of this squadron. The
four vessels proposed will form the
second.
The president closes with laudation
of the battle fleet now circumnavigat-
ing the globe.
IT'LL ThIYC tn