The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-20
.EROA OTHER PENS

THE ARMY AND UNEMPLOYED.
The rush of the unemployed to en-
list in the army has effected COM
plete change Of programme at the re-
cruiting offices. Where three months
ago applicants were received, with
GERS are enabled to choose the most
promising men at rate of one in
eight. This anxiety to join the army
is manifest in all quarters, but par
ticularly at the stations on the Atlantic
coast From New York comes the re-
port that the whole staff at Fort Slo-
cum has been kept so busy that the
usual Sunday holiday has been given
up. In this city at both recruiting sta
tions the increase in applicants has
been fully two-thirds. The men who
apply are chiefly mechanics, clerks.
laborers and factory employees, valu-
able acquisitions. morally and physical
ly. They are men who in one way or
another have held positions Of respon-
sibility. It is just this type who. by
good conduct, enjoy the service, and
re-enlist for longer terms. One re-
proach which Europe brings against
us is that we despise a soldier. Whether
there is any justice In this or not. 1t
is much less likely to be true with the
improved personnel.
But, although by this process the
army has indirectly benefited by tn e
business depression. this renewal OF
be no check to congressional scrutiny
to the Acknowledged defects OF our
military system. The same movement
| of the unemployed was noted in 1884.
after the panic. Today large pro-
portion of those who enlist are moved
| to do SO with the hope of awaiting
themselves Of the INCREASE OF army pay
which is SO confidently expected, ana,
| for that matter, large share OF re-
| enlistments can be traced to the same
motive. Should the PROPOSED ieglsla-
rary difficulty Of obtaining work, pusi-
ness at the recruiting stations would
probably take a very sudden drop
Boston Transcript.
MILITARY EXPENDITURES.
| 1t is rather surprising to learn. In
connection with Mr.. Tawney's remar x.
| on the large deficiency foreshadoweo
between the government estimates
presented and the revenues that may
reasonably be expected. that one hail
| of the appropriations asked are 1ol
what he calls 1.-The military side OF the
government" He puts the total OF the
military account at 4oo,ooo,oov.
Mr.. Tawney holds that a cut In these
military estimates sh ould be made and
the common sense of the nation vii
agree with him. It is not vital to avofe
a deficiency in revenue Inc casf
treasury surplus could be reduced
s5O,000,0o0 or more with advantage
rather than injury. But there Is little
doubt that the sum expended last yea
for the army and navy could affort
| expenditures for the details in which
our defense Is defective and keep tn.
navy UP to its present standard, which
is more than ample for defense.
It would be fatuous to cut off repro
ductive work like waterway improve
ment In order that the barren ant
wasteful expenditure on fleet beyont
defensive needs may be enlarged. Blu
if the military increase is excuses
and $50,o00,000 devoted to energet1
and systematic river and harbor I'M
Eprovement, the country will be nom
: the worse or for the moderate shrink
age Of the swollen treasury surplus
Pittshure Dispafch