New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-08
The DAvINWASHINGTON


issue with the former President occasioned
no little surprise in the Senate Senator
Rorah said that the essential difference De-
tween the old democracies and republics
and this was their inability 10 devise
method whereby the rights OF the minority
might he shielded from the tyranny OF the
majority, and that in this Republic the
political freedom OF the courts AFFORDED
that protection. Mr.. Borah did not. now
ever go so far as 70 point out that MS
argument could be applied with practically
equal force 10 the referendum and militia
tive indeed 10 practically all the other
panaceas TO be found in the platform or
Senator Bourne's salvation army.
TOO PROvINCIAL.-The spectacle OF the
War Department having TO call for civil
ians to take the examinations for com
missions by which II Is hoped 70 MI TWO
hundred vacancies in the commissioned
personnel OF the army, when the classes at
the Military Academy have been and are
far from full. and OF the Navy Depart
nent having 70 conduct It's classes with
considerably less than the designed quota
has aroused the military authorities TO the
fact that the existing law, whereby candi-
dates for these academies arc named, is de-
fective In that Il is much too provincial
II IS pointed out that there can be only
one opinion regarding the folly OF examin-
ing and granting civilians commissions IN
the army when the facilities for educating
young men for these places are not utilized
and when those who pass the examinations
and are commissioned as second lieutenants
must be assigned Immediately 70 the special
service schools for long periods before they
are competent 70 perform the duties for
which they are paid. In the case OF the
navy. Il is impossible TO impart the neces-
sarv education 10 civilians admitted az the
age at which midshlpmen are commissioned,
and therefore an embarrassing lack OF
officers is likely to occur from classes much
below the normal membership. a further
evidence OF the defect OF the present law
is found in the fact that there are literally
hundreds Of applicants for the two acade-
niles who have passed all the necessary en-
trance examinations but, having been
named as alternates instead u principals,
cannot be admitted. Under the existing
law the places in these academies are ap-
portioned among the members OF Congress,
each of whom may name a principal and
one or more alternates for each vacancy in
his district. In many instances both prin-
cipal and alternates named By one mem
Der OF Congress VIII pass. while neither
Of those named by another will show the
necessary requirements. Unless the mem
Der whose nominees have failed promptly
names others. vacancies will result, al
though the War or Navy Department may
have a list Of alternates who have demon
strated their qualifications for admission.
The remedy IS OF course. obvious. Any
vacancy which had not been filed by the
member Of Congress who enjoyed that
privilege within a reasonable time should
be filed from the list OF alternates In the
order OF merit and irrespective Of locality
from which such alternate came The
opposition TO this proper remedy comes, OF
course. from members OF Congress who fear
they might lose one Of their prerogatives,
but the defects OF the present system are
so glazing that II is hoped popular senu-
ment will become sufficiently strong TO in
sure revision OF the law.
NOMINATION BY BUMPs.-There is q
rumor current in the Capitol that Senator
La Toilette. having been pronounced by
none other than DIT. Allen. professor in
Aurora College. 70 possess all the bumps
necessary TO establish his peculiar fitness
for the Presidency. is about 20 introduce
and pass 2 bill abolishing the custom Of
nominating Presidential candidates b. ma
tional conventions and 10 substitute there
for nominations by bumps. The extreme
modesty OF the Senator from Wisconsin
makes him loath 20 discuss the subject,
especially IN view OF the remarkable
character he has just received from the
Aurora phrenoogtst, but II g intimated by
his close friends that he would have the
cordial support Of hts insurgent colleagues
for such q measure and that II ne is will
ing 70 except the Democracy from It's pro
visions ne can probably command the sup
port OF the Democrats as well. In the alb
sence Of confirmation by the Wisconsin
patriot. this report must be accepted as
only. q rumor, although Il is being circu-
lated with much circumstantiality. Il is
further asserted that Speaker Champ Clark
Is making dlligent inquiry for the address
OF a phrenologist possessed Of a large
measure OF political prescience, as is also
Representative Underwood. There are, OF
course, skeptics and iconoclasts who insist
that the bumps 20 be found on insurgent
heads this year are OF political rather than
Of natural origin. and who even predict
that before another year has passed insur-
gent heads will exhibit q new crop much
more prolific and prominent But ali
orthodox believers In phrenology will
promptly reject such ribald comment and
suggestion. G.. G. Il.