The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1908-12-10

| we'll for them to become Independents -
| to continue under the protection =,
strong and dsinterested power. abla a
| guarantee to the islands order at -
ana protection from foreign invasion
Porto Rico.
I again recommend that Anerto, :.
izenship be conferred upon the peonla -,
| Porto Rico p'o VI
In Cuba our occupancy will ceaso &
about two months time; the Cub
| have in orderly manner elected tboi, ",Ias
| governmental authorities, and the isIana
VIII be turned over to them. Our occ,,
pauoh on TINS occasion has lasted NJ
| tie over two years, and Cuba has tbr,
! en- and prospered under it. Our esrna'.
! hope and one desire is that the nann1S
of the island shall now govern ~.
selves with justice, so that peace and ar
der may be secure
Japanese Exposition.
The Japanese government has nos,-
poned untll IVY the date of the great
international exposition, the action No
ing taken so as to insure annie 80
! in which to prepare to make the exnno
sition all that it should be made IN
| American commissioners have visitas
Japan and the postponement will roera-
! ~ give ampler opportunity for Ameri
ca to be represented at the exr osi+Ia,
! Not since the first international exnn
sition has there been one of praato,
! Importance than this will be. marking
as 1t does. the fiftieth anniversary 81
! the ascension to the throne of the en-
! peror of Japan. The extraordinarv
leap to the foremost place among the
| nations of the world made by Janon
during this half century is sometime
| unparalleled in all previous history
l 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 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 generous
| hospitality shown our ships in every
| port they visited.
! The Army.
AS regards the army / call attentio,
| to the fact that while our Junior on
| GERS and 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 have but a 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
d
! by no means creditable fact that there
| should be 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 re-
spectacle elderly incompetents The
higher places should be given to the
most deserving men without regard to
seniority; at least seniority should be
treated only one consideration. In
the stress of modern Industrial com.
petition no business firm could succeed
If those responsible for its management
were chosen simply on the ground that
they were the oldest people in its en-
ployment; yet this Is the course advo-
Gated regards the army, and re-
quired by law for all grades except
those OF general officer. AS matte,
OF fact all of the best officers in the
highest ranks of the army those
who have attained their present posi-
ton wholly or in part by process OF
selection.
The scope OF retiring boards should
be extended so that they coald con-
slider general unftness to command for
any cause. in order to secure 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
the congress does not see fit to provide
wat 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 45 he
should of course be placed on the re-
tired list. General officers should be
selected at 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 candl-
dates proposed for each vacancy by
board of officers from the arm OF the
service from which the promotion 10
to be made a bill Is now before the
congress having for its object to SEE
cure the promotion of officers to vari-
Gus grades at reasonable ages through
process of selection. by boards OF OF
ncers of the least efficient for retire
ment 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. tho
National Guard. has been incorporated
with the army as a part OF the national
do every reasonable thing in its power
to perfect it's efficiency. 1t should Dc
assisted in its instruction and other-
wise aided more literally than hereto-
fore. The continuous services OF many
well-trained regular officers VIII "
essential in this connection.
bin is now pending before NV
congress creating number OF extra
officers in the army. which II passed.
as 1t ought to be. will enable more
officers to be trained as instructors o
National Guard and assigned TO tha'
duty In case of war IL Will be OF 'he
utmost Importance to have laIeo
number OF trained officers TO use loi
turning raw levies into good troops
The Navy.
l approve the recommendations Oh
the general board for the NJ
crease OF the navy. calling espec,a'
attention to the need OF auui
tional destroyers and golfers. ana aoo
ALL of the four battleships 1t Is aesn
able to complete as soon as posslpip