Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-12-11
ARMY AND NAVY.
v

AS regards the army / cali attention 10
the fact that while our junior oincers ana
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 nave put d
short time TO serve. No man shouId re-
gard it as his vested right 10 rise TO the
highest rank In the army any more thar
in any other profession. IL Is a curious
and by no means creditable fact that mere
should be so often a failure on the part OF
the public and its representatives 70 unuer-
stand the great need, from the
of the service and the nation, Or REFUSING
TO romot respectable, elderly, nConlpe-
tents. The higher places shouid DE siEen
70 the most deserving men without re,
gard TO seniority; at least seniority shouIu
be treated as only one Consideration, III
the stress OF modern industrial coInpgfe
tition no business firm could succeed II
those responsible for It's management
were chosen simply on the ground thal
they were the Oldest people IN It's employ
ment; vet this is the course advocated as
regards the army. and required py law
for all grades except those OF genera, u
hcer. As a matter OF fact, ali OF the pest
officers In the highest ranks OF the army
are those who have attained their present
position wholly or in part by a process
The scope of retiring boards should be
extended so that they could CONSIDER sem-
eral unfitness to for any cause,
In order TO secure a Tar more rlSiu GU
forcement than at present IN the eiiHiina-
tiDn of OflcerS TOT HcHtdi, piySASo
te"mperamental disabilities. bull TINS plaI,
is recommended only IL the congress does
not see fit to provide what In my 5uqs-
ment is far better; thai Is, lot ssIection
i'm promotion, and for elimination Tor age.
Officers who fail TO attain a certain RANK
by a certain age should be retlred-lor
instance. IL a man should not ATTAIN helu
rank by the time he is 40 he snould: Oh
course. be placed on the retired ist. Gen
eral officers should be selected as at pres
ent. and one-third OF the other promo
lions should be made by seiectioh, the
SELECTION to be made by the president OF
the secretary of war from a IlSt OF az
least two candidates proposed LOT eacn
vacancy by q board OF cflcers from lhe
arm Of the service from when the pro-
motion Is to be a. A bill Is now De-
fore the congress having Tor It's opJect 70
secI,re the promotion OF officers TO va
rious grades at reasonable ages through
a process OF selection, by boards OF OF
ficsrs- of the least efficient for retirement
with a percentage of their pay Depending
unon length OF service. The bill, although
not accomplishing all that should De
done. Is a long step In the right directloh'
and I earnestly recommend It's passage.
or that OF a more completely enecuFe
measure. .S
The cavalry arm should be r~eorganizeo
upon modern lines. This Is an arm On
which IL is peculiarly necessary that the
"aia aeicers should not be old. The cav
NV !. much more difficult to form than
trfsnfry' and IL should be kept up TO the
,nayimum both In efficiency ana ~
streneth. for II cannot be made IN 9
hurry. At present both infantry ar