Gilpin observer., 1908-12-10

well Tor them to become Independent or
| to continue under the protection Of Q
| strong and dsinterested power, able to
guarantee to the islands order at homo
| and protection from foreign invasion.
Porto Rico.
I 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 a lit
tie over two years, and Cuba has thriv-
en- and prospered under 1t. 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 will mere
ly give ampler opportunity for Amert-
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 it does. the fiftieth anniversary OF
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.
1 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 it's appre-
| citation of the abounding and generous
| hospitality shown our ships in every
| port they visited.
The Army.
AS regards the army I 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 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
| other profession. 1t is a curious and
by no means creditable fact that there
should be so often a failure on the
| part of the public and it's representas
| tives to understand the great need.
| from the standpoint of the service anA
| 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
| 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 as regards the army. and re-
| quired by law for all grades except
those of general officer AS 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 a process of
| selection.
| The scope of retiring boards should
| be extended that they could con-
| slider general unfitness 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 temperamental disabilities.
But this plan is recommended only it
the congress does not see fit 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 certain rank by a GER
tain age. should be retred-for in
stance. il man should not attain
field rank by the time he is As he
should of course be placed the re-
tired list General officers should be
of the other promotions should be
made by selection. the selection to be
made by the president or secretary of
war from list of at least two candi-
dates proposed for each vacancy by Q
board of officers from the arm of tho
service from which the promotion is
to be made. bill is now before the
congress having for it's 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.
ment with percentage of their pay
depending upon length of service. The
| bill, although not accomplishing all
that should be done. is long step in
the right direction: and 1 earnestly
recommend it's passage. or that of a
more completely effective measure.
National Guard.
Now that the organized militia. ths
National Guard, has been incorporated
with the army as part OF the national
forces. it behooves the government to
do every reasonable thing in it's power
to perfect its efficiency. 1t should be
assisted in its instruction and other
wise aided more literally than hereto-
fore. The continuous services of many
well-trained regular officers will be
essential in this connection. A
bill is now pending before the
congress creating n number of extra
officers in the army. which II passed.
as ii ought to be. will enable more
officers to be trained as instructors of
National Guard and assigned to that
duty. In case of war il will be OF the
utmost Importance to have large
number of trained officers to for
turning raw levies into good troops.
The Navy.
approve the recommendations OF
the general board for the in
crease OF the navy. calling especial
attention to the need OF addi-
tional destroyers and colliers. and above
all. OF the four battleships. 1t Is desir-
able to complete soon possible q
squadron of eight battleships OF the best
existing type.
most earnestly recommend that ths