The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-27
FRON OTHER PENS
ARMY ELIMINATION.


The project of establishing by act of
Congress system of elimination in the
Army is considered, according to the
judgement of experienced observes, as
standing no chance of congressional
approval. Those who understand the
sentiment prevailing in the military
personnel have all along entertained
no expectation that the proposition
will be adopted To most army officers
the plan of elimination is intolerabfe.
no matter to what extent it may be
fortified by the assurances of impartial
application. 1t is realized that elm
nation will fail to; eliminate, regard
less of the statutory installation of
a new method of seIection-out There
exists all sorts of4measures by which
physically unfit. professionally incap-
able and tempernaRnently incapacitated
members of the commissioned person
mel of the Army may be transferred
from the active list or wholly retired,
which amounts to being permanently
separated from the service. Despite
these resources, the. Army is described
as having officers in various grades
who stand in the way of progress, and
who are detriment to discipline and
the direct cause of characterization
among their juniors.
Elimination in military personnel
ad ministration is acceptable to Con-
gress only on the admission that there
are So many QlSQudtlDeQ OF unnI army
officers of senior and junior grades as
to justify that drastic means of re-
lieving them from pernicious activity.
1t is acceptable, too, on the basis that
the present facilities of radiance are
sympathetically ignored OF the for
mer proposition, it is safe to say that
the advocates of elimination will en-
counter the denial and protest of peo-
pie who refuse to believe that the army
commissioned personnel. with mem
bers derived from the Military Acade-
my and from discriminating selected
civilian sources, is in any such deter
| iorated state. OF the other proposition
! it may be said that it only empha-
sizes the futility of any system of elm
| ination which pretends to accomplish
its purpose by getting rid of the in
competent, physically, professionally OF
tempermentally.-W Herald
THE PLAN OF PROBATION.
How far can crime be charged to
| a physical condition? The question is
| involved in the recommendation by the
probation commission of New York
state that physicians examine children
| in juvenile courts. in order to ascer-
| tain TO what extent delinduencies can
be traced to bodily defects that can be
remedied. 1t is known that the rela-
| ton does exist in individual cases that
have been observed among adults as
1 well do tHS NOuuS. may H0eu
medical or surgical treatment rather
| than imprisonment.
| The problem is a direct result of
placing specified classes of social Of
tenders in charge of}probation officers,
instead of locking them UP in penal
/ institutions. OF course the purpose is
| to substitute reformation for punish
ment The object is to make good cit
liens out of those formerly cast into
stone girdled darkness, amid wailing
and gnashing of teeth, silenced only by
stern discipline. 1t appears that in
general the scheme iustifies itself in
| operation. Much depends upon adj
ministration; if that be efficient, bene-
fit follows: if it be loose and unskil1-
full, harm results. 1t is essential that
the officials in charge have intelligence
| sympathy with the plan. Therein en-
ters the personal equation. Probation
under officials without either faith or
ltact works harm: but when controlled
lby judges and officers who exercise
their judgment, discrimination and
caution, the offender is helped and the
commonwealth is in the long run the
gainer-Washingto Post.
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