Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-12-09

 eign invasion. But no one can proph- esy the exact date when it will be wise to consider independence as fixed and definite policy. It would be worse than folly to try to set down such date in advance, for it must depend upon the way in which the Phillipine people themselves develop the power of self mastery.
 Porto Rico
 I again recommend that American citizenship be conferred upon the peo- pie of Porto Rico
 Cuba
 In Cuba sour 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 occupation on this occasion has lasted little over two years, and Cuba has thriven and prospered under if. Our earnest hope and one desire is that the people of the island should now govern themselves with justice, so that peace and order may be secure. We will gladly help them to this end; but l
 
 the great truth that the only way a people can permanently avoid being governed from without is to show that they both can and will govern them selves from within.
 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 tha tit should be made. The American commissioners have visited Japan and the postponement will mere ly give ampler time and opportunity for America to be represented at the exposition. Not since the first inter. national exposition has there been one of greater importance than this will be. marking as it does the fiftieth an niyersary of the ascension to the throne of the emperor of Japan. The extra ordinary leap to foremost place among the nations of the world made by Japan during this half century is something unparalleled in all previous history This exposition will ftly commemorate and signalize the giant progress that has been achieved. It is the first expo sition of its kind that has ever beer held in Asia. The United States, be cause of the ancient friendship be tween the two peoples, because each of us fronts on the Pacific, and because of the growing commercial relations be tween this country and Asia, takes pc culiar interest in seeing the exposition T.
 I take this opportunity publicly t' state my appreciation of the way 1T which in Japan, in Australia, in New Zealand. and in all the states of Soutl America, the battle fleet has been re ceiyed on its practice voyage arounC the world The American government can not too strongly express its appre citation of the abounding and generou hospitality shown our ships in ever, port they visited.
 The Army
 As regards the army l call attention to the fact that while our junior officer and enlisted men stand very high, thu present system of promotion by senior ity results in bringing into the highe grades many men of mediocre capacit!
  No man should regard it as his veste' right to rise to the highest rank Tn tn army any more than in any other pro fession. It is curious and by m means creditable fact that there shoul' be so often a failure on the part of tn public and its representatives to under stand the great need, from the stand point o fthe service and the nation. Q refusing to promote respectable, elderl, Iincompetents. The higher places shoul' be given to the most deserving mel without regard to seniority; at leas seniority should be treated as only on consideration. In the stress of moderl industrial competition no business firm could succeed if those responsible fo it's management were chosen simply ol the ground that they were the oldes people in its employment; yet this i the course advocated as regards tn army, and required by law for al grades except those of general officer As a matter of fact, all of the best off cers in the highest ranks of the arm. are those who have attained their pres ent position wholly or in part by process of selection.
 The scope of retiring boards shoul' be extended So that they could conside general unfitness to command for an, cause, in order to secure a far nor rigid enforcement than at present il the elimination of officers for mental physical or temperameutal disabilities But this plan is recommended only i the congress does not see fit to provid what in my judgment is far better that is, for selection in promotion an for elimination for age. Officers wh i fail to attain a certain rank by eer tain age should be retired-for instance if man should not attain field ranl by the time he is 45 he should of cours be placed on the retired list. Genera officers should be selected as at pres ent, and one-third of the other promo tons should be made by selection. tn selection to be made by the presiden or the secretary of war from a list O at least two candidates proposed fo each vacancy by board of officer from the arm of the service from whic the promotion is to be made. A bill now before the congress having for it object to secure the promotion of off cers to various grades at reasonabl lages through a process of selection, b. boards of officers, of the least effieien for retirement with percentage O