The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-12-12

well for them to become Independent. or
to continue under the protection OF .
strong and dsnterested power. able to
guarantee to the islands order at homo
and protection from foreign invasion.
Porto Rico.
I 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 to them. Our occu-
patton on this occasion has lasted a lit
tie over two years. and Cuba has thriv-
en- and prospered under It, Our earnest
hope and desire is that the people
OF the island shall govern them
selves with justice. SO that peace and or
der may be secure.
Japanese Exposition.
The Japanese government has posx.
poned until 1917 the date of the great
international exposition, the action be-
Ing taken SO as to insure ample time
in which to prepare to make the expo
sition all that 1T should be made. The
American commissioners have visited
Japan and the postponement will mere
ly give ampler opportunity for Ameri-
ca to be represented at the exposition.
Not since the first international expo
stion has there been one of greater
Importance than this will be, marking.
as 1t does. the fftieth anniversary OF
the ascension to the throne of 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 Is something
unparalleled in all previous history.
take this opportunity publicly to
state my appreciation of the way in
which in Japan. in Australia, in New
Vnr,1 a - -
America. the battle fleet has been re-
ceived on its practice voyage around
the world. The American government
can not too strongly express its appre-
citation of the abounding and generous
hospitality shown our ships in every
port they visited.
The Army.
As regards the army ca' attention
to the fact that while oVr Junior off,
GERS and enlisted men stand very high.
the present system of promotion by
seniority results in bringing into the
higher grades many men of mediocre
capacity who have but "A short time to
serve. No man should regard 1t his
vested right to rise to the highest rank
in the army any more than In any
other profession. 1t is curious and
by means creditable fact that there
should be SO often failure on the
part OF the public and its representa-
tives to understand the great need.
from the standpoint of the service and
the nation, of refusing to promote re-
spectacle elderly incompetents Tho
higher places should be given to the
most deserving men without regard to
seniority; at least seniority should be
treated as only one consideration In
the stress of modern Industrial com
petition no business firm could succeed
If those responsible for its management
were chosen simply on the ground that
they were the oldest people In its em-
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 those
who have attained their present posi-
tion wholly or in part by process of
selection.
The scope Of retiring boards should
be extended so that they could con-
slider general unftness to command for
any cause, in order to secure a far more
rigid enforcement than at present in
the elimination OF officers Tor mental.
physical or tempera mental disabilities
| But this plan is recommended only IL
| the congress does not see fit to provide
| what in my Judgment is far better.
: that is, for selection in promotion, and
for elimination for age. Officers who
fail to attain a certain rank by a GER
tain age. should be retired-for in
stance. IL 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 be
made hy selection. the selection to be
made by the president secretary OF
war from a 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 IL
to be made bill is now before the
congress having for its object to Sc
| cure the promotion of officers to vari-
| Gus grades at reasonable ages through
| a process of selection. by boards of Of
ficers. of the least efficient for retire.
ment with a. percentage OF their pay
| depending upon length of service. Tho
| BIZ, although not accomplishing all
| that should be done, Is a long step in
| the right direction; and l earnestly
| recommend it's passage. or that of .
| more completely effective measure.
National Guard.
| Now that the organized militia. the
| National Guard. has been Incorporated
| with the army as part of the national
| forces. 1t behooves the government to
do every reasonable thing in its power
| to perfect it's 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
| bill is pending before the
| congress creating a number of extra
officers in the army. which If 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 1t will be of the
| utmost Importance to have a large
| number of trained officers to use for
turning raw levies into good troops.
The Navy.
| I 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 coliers, and above
| all, of the four battleships. 1t is desir-
| able to complete as soon possible q
| squadron of eight battleships of the best