The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-21
FROM OTHER PENS
HEREDITY AT WEST POINT.

IL is reported by the correspondent
of a Western newspaper that a num-
Der OF congressman are inclined to
make trouble for West Point and An
ma polls on the ground that those great
schools are too hereditary, that they
include an undue proportion of sons
of officers, and that these are allowed
to become privileged classes of cadets
and midshipmen.e The two academies
have to take what Is sent them, and
they are in no way ere sponsible for the
appointments. 8 Presidents generally
give the majority of their appoint
mentS at large to boys of army and
navy families apparently on the as
sumption that they are the future adj
mirals and generals. The safer as
sumption is that Officers sons will
have hereditary aptness for the SER
vice and will begin their studies with
the advantage of preliminary know
ledge of the shop" That great lead
ers are born, not made. appears to be
the teaching of modern military bis
tory. Few of the great captains of the
last two centuries were sons of SOL
diers, and civilian antecedents have
been no bar to the progress toward
distinction. If West Point and Anna
polls turn out good officers they
have answered the purpose of their
organization, which is to train talent,
not to develop genius. At both aca-
denies the hereditary element is in
such a minority that it is difficult to
see any good ground for the threaten
ed vestigation.-Boston Transcript.
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES.
President Taft has certainly
achieved a great reform in requiring
his department heads to present esti-
mates for the next appropriations
which are both economical and free
from "bluff."
He took this subject up with his
cabinet soon after he had taken
office. He told the secretaries that
they must cut down unnecessary ex-
appropriations they actually needed,
and that they must not enter into any
rivalries with one another. but must
| all stand together to make the money
| they get show to the best advan-
tage. not merely for their own de-
partments as such. but for the gov
eminent and the people
| How well he has succeeded appears
in the fact that the appropriations
now asked for In the secretary of the
| s94 100000 than the estimates a year
ago. Most of the cuts come in the
war, navy and treasury departments,
The secretary shows that permanent
! economies are possible through an
work, and certainly a good beginning
has been made along this line
Duplication has been prevented. Sys-
tenn has been established which
means far greater efficiency in ad-
ministrative methods.-Chicago Rec
ord-Herald-
1 INTELLECTUALLY OURSELVES
One of the big London dailies, in com
| mentine upon the opening of the New
theater in New York recently, made
| this observations: New York, ittls
bIase with its riches and little weary
of its material magnif1cence, is BEN
lust now on Understandings itself.
The writa. of this comment held thai
| what was true Of New York was true
of America generally. Thus we see our
selves as others see u.s. We are BEN
! upon intellectualizing ourselves. 1t is {
sort of a modern Renaissance, new
intellectual era. Riches and materia
magnificence have become ehete, W.
are told. so we are now turning to thu
tempered joys of the intellect
If the nation is really intellectualiz
ing itself, it certainly is not matter o
recent development, the London daily
opinion to the contrary notwithstand
ing. The building of the New theater
backed by a few of the country
wealthiest men, can scarcely be takel
as prima facie evidence of that conten
ton. 1t is true that today there Is in
| creased interest in the so-cal!ed in
tellectual DRAMA 1t Is true that Their
is a greater attendance at the opera
But all the plays that come under tn
hea ding of intellectual are not of tn
highest type of drama Many of then
are simply studies in the abnormal
Washington Post.