Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-02-28
hole through the ground under the riv.

ed States army and navy naturally
brings the inquiry why conditions are
such that there are not plenty Of young
men willing and eager to enter the
service OF Uncle Sam. Although vari-
Gus theories have been advanced, few
of them are satisfactory. One gener-
ally accepted theory is that young men
have been offered better inducements
in business life and that the financial
returns in other callings and vocations
are so much better that young men win
not enlist While the salary may have
something to do with the small num-
ber entering the service of Uncle Sam
and while the wages should be increas
ed so as TO provide at least the
amount paid a farm hand for labor,
there is reason to believe that reforms
in the army and navy are needed in
order that recruits may be attracted
The glamour Of army life would hold
young men If the prlvates were treat
ed as they should be, instead of being
made to serve petty officers who wish
to show their authority. There Is too
much fiunkeyism in both the army and
navy, and If something more Of dem
ocratic spirit existed between the men
and the officers, there would not be
the great number of deserters as now
reported. Any young man who has
red blood in him objects to being made
menial and compelled to blacken the
officers shoes or perform other humill-
atlng tasks that are often assigned
him. A conspicuous example of the
insolence of some Of the petty officers
was shown few years ago in Con-
necticut, when private resented the
insult of sergeant at theater by
shooting him, and the story is well
known of Gunner Morgan In the navy,
who was denied promotion because he
was not up in ball room. etiquette. The
tendency of some of the officers to be
on dress parade was shown recently,
when objection was made to the as
signment Of the Philippine squadron
to Subig bay, which Admiral Dewey
urged was the most effective point for
service, the ridiculous argument being
advanced that this assignment would
deprive the officers Of the social privl-
leges Of Manila. In the civil and
Spanish wars, men did not desert their
colors. Despite the carplng critics of
the regular army, the volunteer SOL
dier In the militia who was treated
somewhat on an equality by his officers
was on hand when wanted. Disc-
pline in the ranks Is essential to ef-
fective service but when off duty a
feeling Of fellowship between officers
and men shotlld be encouraged as
tending to improve the morale of the
tion and must depend on the patriot
ism Of Its citizens for defense in time
Of peril. But the tendency to make a
lot of strutting peacocks out of army
and naval officers and allow them to
wipe their feet on the private soldier
is rapidly bringing the military into
disfavor. To invoke conscrlptlon would
be fatal. The American people would
never consent to 1t in time Of peace,
and they would eliminate the present
standing army rather than force young
men into the army now. Improve con-
dltions surrounding the life Of the reg
ular soldier, stop the monarchial fun
keyism. give the private chance to,
advance, provide system of training
where he can reach even the positions
now held exclusively by West Point
graduates, and, above all, inject a lit
tie democratic spirit into the army and
navy, and the young men Of the coun.
try will do the rest.