The Elbert County tribune., 1908-12-10


to continlle under tho projection -
strong and disinterested power, alb =
guarantee to the islands order at heus<
and protection from foreign invastsa
Porto Rico.
! again recommend that america. -
Izsnship be conferred upon the psoDsn =
Porto Rico.
In Cuba our occupancy win ceass -
about two months' time; the Cubasp
have In orderly manner elected their -
governmental authorities and the fstnn2
viii be turned over TO them. Our eu1u-
patton on this occasion has lasted . ~
tie over two years. and Cuba has thrtv-
en- and prospcrcd under Il. Our carneus
hope and one desire Is that the peepSs
OF the Island shall now govern thesa
selves with justice. so that peace and or
der may be secure
Japanese Exposition.
The japanese government has pest
poned until 1917 the date Of the grcrs
International exposition. the action be-
ing taken SO as to insure ample time
In which to prepare TO make the expo-
sition all that IL should be made. Tn,
American commissioners have visited
Japan and the postponement win mere
ly give nmplcr opportunity for Amert-
ca to be represented at the cxpositieaA
Not since the FIRST International expo-
stion has there been one of greatcw
Importance than this Will be. markina
as II does. the fftieth anniversary 81
the ascension to the throne OF the en-
peror OF Japan. The extraordinaU
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 e.
state my appreciation of tho way IN
which In Japan, In Australia. in New
Zealand. and in all the statcs OF South
America. the battle fleet has been re
on - f.Fu
the world. The American government
cnn not too strongly express its appre-
citation of the abounding 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 on
GERS and enlisted men stand very high.
the present system OF promotion by
Heniority results In bringing into tho
higher grades many men OF mediocr.
capacity who have but n short time TO
serve. No man should regard IL rs hts
vested right to rise TO the highest rank
in the army any more than In any
other profession. II ls a curious and
by no means creditablc fact TINT there
should be so often a failure on the
part OF the public and It's representa-
tivcs to understand tho great nced,
from the standpoint of the service and
the nation. Of refusing to promote re-
higher places should be glvcn to tho
most deserving men without rcrard 10
seniority at least seniority should be
treated ns only one confederation. In
the stress OF modern Industrial com
petition no business frm could succeed
II those responsible for it's management
were chosen simply on the ground that
they were the Oldest people in its en-
pioyment; yet this Is the course advo-
Gated as regards the army. and re-
quired by law for all grades except
those of general oficer. "A n matter
of fact all OF the best officers In the
highest ranks of the army are those
who have attained their present poai-
ton wholly or In part by a process OF
selection.
The scope OF retiring boards should
be extended so that they could con
slider general unfitness to command for
any cause. in order to secure n far more
rigid enforcement than at present In
the elimination of officers for mental.
physical or temperamental disabilities.
But this plan is recommended only "
the congress does not see at to provide
what in my Judgment ia far better,
, that IN. for selection In promotion. and
for elimination for age. officers who
fail to attain certain rank by n Ger
tain age. should be retIred--for In
stance, II "a 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 as at present and one-third
of the other promotions should be
made by selection. tho selection to be
made by the president or secretary OF
war from list OF at least two candl-
dates proposed for each vacancy by .
board Of officers from the arm OF ths
service from which the promotion 10
to be made. a bill is now before tff<
congress having for Its object to Sc
cure the promotion OF officers to vail
Gus grades Mt reasonable ages through
a process OF selection. by boards Of Of
ncers. Of the least enicient for retire
inent with n percentage OF their pay
depending upon length of service Ths
bill. although not accomplishing an
that should be done. In a long step tr
the right direction; and ! earnestly
recommend it's passage. or that OF
more completely effective measure.
National Guard.
Now that the organized militia. ths
National Guard. has been Incorporated
with the army part OF the nationa6
forces. 1t behooves the government 10
do every reasonable thing in its power
to perfect It's efficiency. II 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 ID now pending before the
congress creating number of extra
officers in the army, which IL passed
as IL ought to be. will enable more
| officers to be trained an Instructors of
| National Guard and assigned to that
| duty. In case OF war II will be OF the
| utmost Importance to have q large
| number OF trained officers to use for
turning raw ievies 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-
tonal destroyers and colliers, and above
ALL OF the four battleshlps. 1t IL desir-
| able to complete as soon as possible q
squadron of eight battieships OF the bes,
existing type.
most earnestly recommend that the
general board be by law turned into .
General stan. Ihere is literally no es-