Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-12-11

well for them to become Independent. or
strong and dislntercsted power. able to
guarantee to the islands order at home
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: the Cubans
have In orderly manner elected their own
governmental authorities, and the island
will be turned over to them. Our oGcu-
patton on this occasion has lasted a lit
tie over two years, and cuba has thirty
en- and prospcrcd under IT. Our earnest
hope and one desire is that tho people
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
international exposition. the action he
ing taken SO as to insure ample time
in which to prepare to make the expo
stion all that it should he made. Tho
American commissioners havn visited
Japan and the postpOncmcnt Will mere
ly give ampler opportunity for Ameri
ca to be represented at the exposition.
Not since the first international expo
sition has there been one of greater
~
as it does, the nftieth anniversary OF
the ascension to the throne of the en-
pcror of Japan. The extraordinary
leap to the foremost place among the
nations of the world made by Japan
during this half century Is something
unparalleled in all previous history.
l take this opportunity publicly to
state my appreciation of the way in
which In Japan, in Australia. in New
Zealand. and in all the states of South
America. the battle fleet has been re-
ceivcd on its practice voyage around
the world The American government
can not too strongly cNprcss It's nppr'-
citation of the nhoundinE and generous
hospitality shown our ships In every
port they visited.
The Army.
As regards tn" army call attention
to the fact that whil, or junior of!
c'rs and "nlstcd m"n stand very high.
In" present system ~ promotion by
F"ninrity results In bringing into IN"
higher grades many men Of mediocre
capacity who hav" but a short time to
serve. No man should regard 1t rs hts
vested right to riH" to the highest rank
in the army any NOR" than In any
other profession. II f. a curious AMI
by II" means rroditnbl" fact that thgr-
should be 30 often - failure on th"
part OF the public and It's representa-
tlvcs to understand the great need
from the standpoint OF the service nud
the nation, NJ refusing TO promote re
spectacle, elderly ln'bHptt'ntr. III"
higher places should u" given 10 IL"
most deserving men without regard 10
seniority: ut least seniority Hhnuih 1.
treated as only on" consideration. IN
III" stress rf modern Industrial con.
p' IttiOn no business nrin 'UuIt HuCT'' d
n those responsible" for It's mana cement
w'T" chosen simply On IL" ground thH'
they wcr" the oldest p""pi" in It's en-
pIoym"nt: yet this Is IL" '"urs" ndyO-
Gated as regards til" army. aud
Iuir'd by law for all grades "xoupt
those Of general officer. Aa a matter
Of fact all Of the best officers in tE-
highest ranks "f ~" army ar" th"a"
win" hny'' uttiiu'rl their present P"r'-
tI"u wholly or In part uy process -
selection
The scope Of retiring boards should
be extended Tint they could con
slider general untitn"ES to command fOF
any cause. In order to SECURE a far NOR.
rigid enforcement than At present In
the elimination nf officers for mental.
physical or tempe rEtnsntnI disabilities.
But this plan is recommended only II
the congress docs not 500. ~ to provide
what In my judgment IL far better.
. that II, for selection in promotion. and
! for elimination f"T aE"- DfilC"rs VII"
rnil to- attain certain rank by Ger
tain age. should Il" r"tiTed-for -.
stance. II n man should not attain
n"Id rank by IN" time b. Ii IJ he
should "f course h." placed on tho Re-
tired list. G"ncrai officers should he
nf tho other promotions should b.
made by selection. tht selection TO b.
made by the pT'zldcnt OF secretary of
war from a list ~ At least two cand.-
dates proposed for each vacancy by =
board Of ufiir' r. from ttC arm of thS
service from which ia" promotion I.
to he made. \ hill i now before III.
congress having for its object TO So
cure the promotion ~ "fiiccrH to VATi-
GUS grades at reasonable ages through
u process nF s"I-ctlou. by boards Of Of
nc.rF Of the least "fii,i'nt for retire
m-nt with a perc"utaG" II their pay
depending upon length pf E"rvice. Tn.
bill. although not accomplishing all
that should b. done. is = long step IN
tho right direction: Rni I chTnestly
recommend It's passage. or that OF
National Guard.
Now That the organized militia, the
National Guard. has .Br"n Incorporated
with the army as a part Of the national
forces, II h. honvcs tho government to
do every reasonable thing in Its power
to perfect it's efficiency. II should be
assisted in its instruction and other
wise aided more literally than hereto
fore. The continuous services of many
weiI-trnIned regular officers will b.
essential In this connection. \
bill is now pending before II.
congress creating a number of eKtra
officers in tn" army. which " passed
as II ought to he, will enable more
Officers TO be trained AN instructors OF
National Guard aud is-iEned to that
duty In case Of war .t Will be OF IN.
utmost imp"TthUr' To have large
number Of trained Officers to use for
turning raw l"yl"s into good troop
The Navy.
apprnv" tn" r"c"mm- -ndations 81
tho general board for tho IN
crease of tho navy. calling especial
attention to the need of ada
tIonai dcstToy'rs and Colllers. and above
all. Of the four battl~snips. II Is desIr
able TO complete as soon ns possible
sTuadron Of eight bsitl"ships Of the best
"sisIing type.