The state herald., 1908-12-11

well for them to become Independent, or
to continue under the protection OF q
strong and disinterested 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 tho people OF
Porto Rico.
In Cuba our occupancy will cease iIv
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 occu-
patton on this occasion has lnsted n lit.
tie over two years, and Cuba has thriv.
en- and prospercd under 1t. Our carnesA
hope and one desire Is that the peopleI
OF the island shall now govern them-
selves with Justice so that peace and or1
der may be secure,
Japanese Exposition.
The Japanese government has post
| 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 IL should he made. The
American commissioners have visited
Japan and the postponement will mere
| ly give ampler opportunity for Amert-
| ca to be represented at the cxpositionI
| Not since the first international expo
| sition has there been one Of greater
| Importance than this will he. markingI
as II does, the iiftleth anniversary OF
| the ascension to the throne OF the en-
| pcror OF Japan, The eNtraordinary
| 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.
tRlg
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-
ceived on Its practice voyage around
the world. The American government
can not too strongly express its appre-
oiation OF the abounding and generous
| hospitality shown our ships In every
| port they visited.
The Army.
As regards tn. army 7 call attention
| TO the fact that while our Junior on
GERS and enlisted men stand very high
| the present system OF promotion by
seniority results in bringing into tho
higher grades many men Of mediocre
| capacity who have but "A short time to
serve. No man should regard II as his
vested right to rise to the highest rank
| In the army any more than In any
| other profession. II is curious and
I
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 incompetcnts. The
higher places should be given to tho
| most deserving men without regard TO
| seniority, at least seniority should b.
| treated as only one consideration. In
the stress of modern industrial COM
| petition no business firm could succeed
| N those responsible for Its management
were chosen simply on the ground that
| they were the oldest people in Its em-
| ployment: yet this IL 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 are those
who have attained their present posi-
! tlon wholly on In part by process OF
selection
The scope OF retiring boards should
be extended 40 that they could con-
slider general unliness 10 command for
| any cause. In order To secure far mors
rigid enforcement than at present In
the elimination Of officers for mental.
! ..hyaical or inrppar.s'aHnrehdHdab abllitlcs,
the congress does not see NJ to provide
| what in my Judgment ia far better.
i, that H. for selection In promotion. and
! for elimination for age, Ofiicefs who
4 fail TO attain certain rank by GER
tain age. should be r-tircd-for In
! stance. " man should not attain
| field rank by the time he is Is he
| should ~ course be placed on the re-
/ tired list General officers should he
selected nH az present and one-third
| Of tho other promotions should he
| made by selection, the selection to b,
made by the president Or secretary Of
war from a list Of NJ least two caudi-
| dates proposed for each vacancy by q
| hoard Of officers from the arm Of the
| service from which the promotion II.
] ~ be made A bill D. now before tho
congress having Tor lts object to Ae'
! cure tho promotion Of officers 20 Yarl.
Gus grades at reasonable ages through
a process Ut selection, by boards of Of
| ncorH. ~ the least efficient Tor retire
mcnt with q percentage of their pay.
depending upon length of service The
bin although not accomplishing all
! that should he done N long stop In
| tho right dirrctioni ana I earnestly
! recommend its passage, or that OF a
more completely effective measure.
kstlohal Guard.
] Now that the organized militia. thu
| National Guard. has been Incorporated
! with the army nH Il part ot the national
/ forces. n bshooyrH the government TO
] DO every reasonable thing iu its power
] 20 perfect ~ efficiency, n should be
nHsiHtsd In iu instruction ana other
| wise aided more literally than hereto
| fore The continuous services % many
/ we'll trained regular officers viii be
| essential In this connection A
/ hill b. now pending before the
| runHrvHa creating 10 number of extra
onicera In The army. which " passed.
ha "a ought 60 br Nlli enable mota
/ orcrra 70 be- trained HH Instructors ot
| National Guard aud assigned 10 that
duty In case Of war Il VIII be OF tho
utmost Importance 60 have larH.
number of trained officers 10 use for
turning raw iryica intn Hnod troops
The Navy.
I approve the rscnmmrn ndationz at
tho general board for tho Ia
crease of tho navy calling especial
attention 10 tho need Of add
tonhl drsif0yefs and eniilors. nnd nb1y.
nli ~ the four haitlrships, u h. drHirs
able "a cnmrlrir sH soon ~ possible "a
squadron ~ uiFht baitieHhips VI the best