Mexico Missouri message., 1908-12-10

wen for them 70 become Independent. or
70 continue under the protection OF a
strong and disinterested power. able 20
guarantee TO the islands order at home
and protection from foreign invasion
Porto Rico.
again recommend that American cit-
ixenship be conferred upon the people az
Porto Rico.
Cuba.
In Cuba our occupancy will cease in
about two months time: tho 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 a lit
| tie over two years. and Cuba has thriv-
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, 30 that peace and or
| der may be secure.
Japanese Exposition.
The Japanese government has post.
| ponod until 1917 the date of the great
international exposition. the action be-
| ing taken 30 as 20 insure ample time
/ in which TO prepare to make the expo
sition all that Il should be made. The
American commissioners have visited
| Japan and the postponement will mere-
| ly give ampler opportunity for Ameri-
| ca to he represented at the exposition.
| Not since the irst international expo
| sition has there been one OF greater
Importance than this will be. marking,
| ns IL does. the nftieth anniversary OF
the ascension to the throne OF tho em-
| 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 tho states of South
America. tho battle fleet has been re-
ceived on it's practice voyage around
the world Tho American government
can not too strongly express It's nppre-
citation OF the Rbounding 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 offi-
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 Il ns his
vested right to rise to the highest rank
in the army any more than in any
other profession. II In n curious and
by no means crcditable fact that there
should be so often n failure on the
part OF the public and its representa-
tives 20 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 as only one consideration. In
tho stress OF modern Industrial COM
petition no business firm could succeed
II those responsible for its management
| ChOHRn RimnlV the ground that
they were the oldest people In its ems
pioymcnt; yet this Ia the course Rdvo-
Gated rs regards the army. and rec
quired 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 arc those
who have attained their present posi-
tion wholly or In part by process OF
selection.
The scope OF retiring boards should
be extended so that they could con-
slider general unntness TO command for
any cause. in order to secure n far more
rigid enforcement than at present In
tho elimination of ofiicerS for mental.
physical or tempernmental disabilities
But this plan is recommended only IL
the congress does not see ht TO provide
what In my judgment is far better.
that Is. for selection In promotion, and
for elimination for age. officers who
fail to attain n certain rank by GER
: tain age should be retired--for in
stance. II man should not attain
field rank by the time he Is As he
should OF course be placed on the re-
tired list. General officers should be
. selected ms 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 n list OF at least two candi-
dates proposed for each vacancy by 4
. | board OF officers from the arm of the
service from which the promotion IL
to be made. a bill Is now before the
congress having for its object to Sc
; cure the promotion OF officers to vari-
Gus grades at reasonable ages through
n process OF selection. by boards OF Of
fcers, OF the least efficient for retire.
: ment with percentage OF their pay
l depending upon length OF service The
Q bill although not accomplishing all
the right direction; and 1 earnestly
n recommend its passage. or that OF q
q more completely effective measure.
Q National Guard.
Now that the organized militia. the
National Guard. has been incorporated
i with the army as a part OF the national
forces. IL behooves the government 70
: do every reasonable thing in its power
TO perfect its efficiency. II should be
Z assisted In its instruction and other
wise aided more literally than hereto
o fore. Tho continuous services OF many
: weli-trainod regular officers will bS
: essential in this connection. A
9 bill Is now pending before tbs
: congress creating n number OF extra
Q officers in the army, which IL passed
Q as II ought to be. will enable more
! officers 20 be trained as instructors OF
National Guard and assigned TO that
duty. In case Of war IL will be OF the
d utmost importance TO have large
q number OF trained officers to use fol
n turning raw lsvIes into good troops.
o The Navy.
= approve the recommendations oi
the general board for the In.
= crease OF the navy. calling especial
. attention to the need of addl.
> tional destroyers and coiers. and above
All of the four battleships. II is deslr'