The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1908-12-11


Porto Rico.
| again recommend that American CIT
izenship be conferred upon the people OF
Porto Rico.
In Cuba our 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 occu-
patton on this occasion has lasted III
tie over two years, and Cuba has thirty
en- and prospered under it. 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.
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 it should be made. The
American commissioners have visited
Japan and the postponement VIII mere
ly give ampler opportunity Tor Amerl-
ca to be represented at the exposition.
Not since the first international expo
sition has there been one of greater
importance than this will be, marking,
as ii does the fiftieth anniversary or
the ascension to the throne OF the en-
peror of Japan. The extraordinary
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.
| 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 or 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 generous
hospitality shown our ships in every
port they visited.
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 mon of mediocre
capacity who have hut 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 so often n failure on the
part of the public and its representa-
tives to understand the great need.
from the standpoint of the service and
I the nation. Of refusing to promote re-
/ spectacle. elderly incompotcnts. 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
we're chosen simply on the ground that
/ they were the oldest people In its en-
! plnymcnt; yet this is the course advo-
Gated as regards the army and re-
! uuircd by law for all grades except
those OF general officer. As Il 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 n process OF
| selection
The scope OF retiring boards SHOULD
be extended so that they could con-
slider general unhtncss 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 tomperamcntal disabilities.
/ But this plan is recommended only II
the congress docs not see lit to provide
what in my Judgment Is far better,
that u.s. 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 IL a man should not attain
field rank by the time he is A. he
should Of course be placed on the re-
tired list. General officers should he
selected as at present. and onc-third
Of the other promotions should be
made by selection the selection to be
made ny the president or secretary of
war from a list of at least two candi-
/ dates uruposcd for each vacancy by n
board Of officers from the arm OF the
service from which the promotion Is
/ to bc made bin is now before the
congress having for its object to Sc
cure the promotion OF officers to vari-
Gus grades at reasonable ages through
| a process Of selection, by boards Of Of
fcers. of the least efficient for retire.
mont with q percentage of their pay
depending upon length OF service The
/ bill although not accomplishing all
| that should g. done is q long step in
the right direction; and | earnestly
recommend its passage or that of a
more completely effective measure.
National Guard.
Now that the organized militia. the
National Guard has been incorpora ted
with the army rs part OF the national
forces. it bchoDyfS the government to
do every reasonable thing in its power
to perfect its efficiency. 1t should be
assisted in it's instruction and other
wise aided more literally than hereto
fore. The continuous services OF many
wcll-trainod regular officers VIII be
essential in this connection. \
bill is now pending before the
congress creating number of extra
officers in the army which IL passed.
as 1t ought to be, viii enable more
officers to he trained as instructors OF
National Guard and assigned to that
duty. In case Of war IT will be of the
utmost importance to have n large
number OF trained officers to use for
turning raw lcvies into good troops.
TIE Navy.
| approve the recommendations OF
the general board Tor the in
crease of the navy. calling especial
attention to the need of addi-
tiOnal dostroyers and GOLFERS and above
all, of the four battleships. 1t is desir-
able to complete as soon as possible a
squadron of eight battleships of the best
existing type
most earnestly recommend that the
general board Doe by law turned into a
general staff. There is literally no ex-
cuse whatever for continuing the pres
ent bureau organization Of the navy. The
navy should be treated as a purely mill
tary organization. and everything should
be subordinatod to the one object of Sc
curing military efficiency. system