Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1908-12-10

well for them 70 become Indrna,s
continue under the protect.,n on
o o,,ar.,,, enu alslnterested power able -
ana protection from forsign - nonu
Porto Rico.
| again recommend tbat Ar,.ri
lZenship be conferred upon tbs 49,, e't.
Porto Rico. people Of
In Cuba our occupancy WI coa..
aDput TWO months time. the C,Eu
nave IN orderly manner elected thatr ,'-I Us
soNerhhlental authorities, and the islart
wiz ne turned over to them. Our o.,
p'''oh on TINS occasion has lasted = n,
~ "a .Wo years and Cuba has thirty
en- ana prospered under ii. our aarn,,,
nope and one desire is that tba ra,,.5e
OF the island shall now rovarr 'pe
serves with justice, so that peace ANA =,
der may be secure. N o''
Japanese Exposition.
me Japanese government has noe,
pohed until 1917 the date OF the 80,
International exposition the action he
ing taken so as to insure annie IT,,
IN which to prepare TO make the exnn'
sltion all that 1t should be made Th
american commissioners have visito,I
Japan and the postponement will nera-
~ give ampler opportunity for AnerI
ca TO be represented at the exposition
Not since the first international exno-
sltlon has there been one OF greater
Importance than this will be. markipo
as II does. the hftieth anniversary =,
the ascension TO the throne OF the sr,
peror of Japan The extraordirarv
leap 10 the foremost place among ths
nations OF the world made by Janaa
during this half century is something
unparalleled in all previous history
fDlr ;, ga
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
citation of the Astounding and Renerou.
hospitality shown our ships in evstg
port they visited,
The Army
AS regards the army I call atteDt,o,
to the fact that while our junior on
GERS and enlisted men stand very high
the present system of promotion nv
seniority results in bringing into tbs
higher grades many men Of mediocre
capacity who have but a short time 10
serve No man should regard it as hjs
vested right TO rise to the highest rank
in the army any more than In apv
other profession 1t is a curious and
by no means creditable fact that thera
should be so often a 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 pa
spectacle. elderly Incompetence 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
ii those responsible for it's management
were chosen simply on the ground that
they were the oldest people in its en-
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 a matter
of fact all of the best officers in the
highest ranks of the army are those
who have attained their present posi-
ton wholly or in part by a process %
selection
The scope of retiring boards should
be extended so that they could con-
slider general unfitness to command for
any cause in order TO secure a far more
rigid enforcement than at present In
the elimination of officers for mental
physical or temperamental disabilities
But this plan is recommended only IL
what in my Judgment is far better
that is. for selection in promotion. and
for elimination for age. officers who
fail to attain certain rank by GER
tain age should be retired-for in
stance If man should not attain
field rank by the time he is IS he
should of course be placed on the re-
tired list General officers should be
selected as az present. and one-third
OF the other promotions should be
made by selection. the selection TO be
made by the president or 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 is
to be made bill is now before the
congress having for its object to Sc
cure the promotion OF officers to Fari-
Gus grades al reasonable ages through
a process of selection. by boards OF Of
flcers of the least efficient for retire.
meut with a percentage OF their pay
depending upon length OF service. The
bill although not accomplishing all
that should be done. is a long step IN
the right direction. and | earnestly
recommend its passage. or that OF
more completely effective measure
National Guard
Now that the organized militia ths
National Guard has been incorporated
with the army as part OF the nauonal
forces. il behooves the government TO
do every reasonable thing In IT'S power
TO perfect It's efficiency. II should Do
assisted in its instruction and otner-
wise aided more literally than hereto
fore. The continuous services OF many
wel-trsned regular officers wall %
essential in this connection
bill Is now pending before the
congress creating number OF extra
officers in the army which u pasSeu
as il ought TO be, viii enable NOR
officers to be trained as Instructors =.
National Guard and assigned 70 Una,
duty In case of war Il viii be Oh w
utmost Importance 10 have la,so
number Of trained officers 70 use 'oi
turning raw levies into good troops
The Navy. r
! approve the recommendation II
the general board for the e
crease OF the navy calling esp u
attention to the need OF 80. hi
tioual destroyers and golfers, ana 80 ~
ALL Of the four battleshlps. IL y ~
able TO complete as soon as poss'oS M
squadron Of eight battleships OF 1hs
existing type,
most earnestly recommend ina
general board be by law turned ~"
general staff There is literally ho
cllse whatever for continuing the W