The Springfield herald., 1908-12-11

nection the message continues:
call the attention of the congress to
the Importance of the problem of the
fisheries in the interstate waters. On the
Great Lakes we are now. under the very
wise treaty of April II of this year. en-.
deavoring to come to an international
agreement for the preservation and sat
isfactory use of the fisheries of these wa
tiers which can not otherwise be achieved.
Lake Erie for example. has the richest
fresh water fisheries in the world: but 1t
Is now controlled by the statutes Of two
nations. four states. and one province.
and this province by two different ordi-
nances in different counties. All these
political divisions work at pur-
poses. and in no case can they achieve
protection to the fisheries. on the one
hand and justice to the localities and .H-
diyIduals on the other
country's Foreign Policy.
This nations foreign policy is based
on the theory that right must be done
between nations precisely as between
individuals and in our actions for the
last ten years we have in this matter
proven our faith by our deeds. We
have behaved. and are behaving. to-
wards other nations. as in private life
an honorable man would behave to-
wards his fellows.
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
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.
Our Southern Neiehbors.
The commercial and material prog
ress of the 20 Latin-American republics
is worthy of the careful attention of
the congress The international Bureau
L.. At,
useful work in making these nations
and their resources better known to
us. and in acquainting them not only
with us as a people and with our pur-
poses towards them. but will what we
have to exchange for their goods.
Panama Canal Being Rushed.
The work on the Panama canal is be-
ing done with speed. efficiency and
entire devotion to duty. which make 1t
model for all work of the kind. The
and his fellow commissioners through
the entire list of employees who are
faithfully doing their duty, have won
and and gratitude % OF Of the @ American people.
For Ocean Mail Lines.
again recommend the extension of
the ocean mail act of 1891 so that salts
factory American ocean mail lines to
South America. Asia. the Philippines.
and Australasia may be established.
Citizenship for Porto Ricans.
I again recommend that American cit
izenship be conferred upon the people of
Porto Rico.
Should Develop Hawaii.
call particular attention to the Ter
ritory of Hawaii. The Importance of
those islands is apparent and the need
of improving their condition and de-
veloping their resources is urgent.
Progress in the Philippines.
Real progress toward self-government
is being made in the Philippine islands
trust that within generation
the time Will arrive when the Filpinos
can decide for themselves whether 1t is
well for them to become Independent. or
to continue under the protection of
strong and disinterested power, able to
guarantee to the islands order at home
and protection from foreign invasion.
Good Work Done in Cuba.
In Cuba our occupancy will 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 occu-
patton on this occasion has lasted lit
tie over two years, and Cuba has thrtv-
en- and prospered under 1t. Our earnest
hope and one desire is that the people
of the island shall now govern them
selves with Justice. so that peace and or
der may be secure.
The National Guard.
crease the efficiency of the National
Guard the president continues:
Now that the organized militia. tho
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 its power
to perfect its 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
bill is now pending before the
congress creating a number of extra
officers in the army. which IL passed
as 1t ought to be. will enable more
officers to be trained as instructors of
National Guard and assigned to that
duty. In case of war it will be of the
utmost Importance to have large
number of trained officers to for
turning raw levies into good troops.
The Army.
AS regards the army call attention
to the fact that while our 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 Il short time to
serve. No man should regard 1t as his
vested right to rise to the highest rank
in the army any more than In any
other profession. 1t is a curious and
by no means creditable fact that there
should be 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. The
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 en-
ployment; yet this is the course advo-
Gated regards the army. and re-
quired by law for all grades except
those of general officer. AS a matter
of fact all of the best officers in the
highest ranks of the army are those
who have attained their present posi-
tion wholly or In part by process of
selection.
Japanese Exposition.
The Japanese government has post
poned until 1917 the date of the great
international exposition, the action be-
ing taken as to insure ample time
in which to prepare to make the expo