New-York tribune., 1912-02-10
From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, February

. washington, FEBRUARY .
DEMOCRATIC STATESMANSHIP.-A
though, as was recently pointed out In this
column, the action OF the Democrats IN
control of the House I'm adopting legislation
mastering out practically four thonsahu
cavalry soldiers and reducing the army by
that number is not to be taken seriously
so far as meaning any immediate reduction
Of the present forces. II is worthy Of atten-
tion because 1t indicates most clearly the
attitude Of the Democracy toward the en-
tire military establishment. In this single
session the Democrats have made this
striking and spectacular exhibition Of
craftsmanship. They have adopted unani-
mously a bitter and offensive resolution al
tacking Russia in terms which would nave
produced strained relations with that coun-
trv. They have issued mandate from
their caucus forbiddIng the authorization
Of any additional battleships, and they
have now passed, I'm committee Of the
whole, q measure reducing the already
small standing army by four thousand
horse soldiers Despite the earnest efforts
of the Republicans TO make clear the situa-
ton. it was apparently Impossible for the
Democrats to comprehend that there is a
decided difference between the forces of
those countries which maintain great
standing armies and the small force of the
United States, which is maintained merely
as the nucleus of a larger force, TO be re-
cruited in time of need. What would bo
the fate of the military establishment were
both houses Of Congress and the executive
branch of the government confided TO the
Democrats II Is easy to perceive: nor. In
view OF the exhibitions OF diplomacy which
the Democrats made when they chose the
Hon. "Bill" Sulzer for chairman Of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs and adopted
his flamboyant and bellicose Russian reso-
luton unanimously. is 1t difficult TO imagine
what would happen to the country as
whole were II committed to their tender
meTcies and made dependent on their con-
ception of statesmanshlp.
MR.. MEYERS SUGGESTION.-Secre-
tary Meyer has suggested TO the naval
committees OF Congress a plan of re-enllSt-
ment for the navy which. in the opinion OF
some military authorities, would prove
equally beneficial to the army. Mr.. Meyer
proposes a plan of voluntary extension OF
has served his four years in tho navy may
rc-enlist for one, two, three or four years.
at his own option. and that, moreover,
those who so ro-enlist would retain all the
rights and privileges which they have un-
der existing law. particularly those result
Ing from the receipt Of an honorable dis
charge. This system has been employed
with success in the German navy for many
years. and il is hoped that tho provision
may he inserted in the pending naval ap-
preparation bill. Army officers who believe
such scheme would work benefit 10 the
army point out that there are some soldiers
who appear TO havo been cut out for their
work, who would like TO re-cnlist, although
they may not care TO do so for a full period
Of three years under the existing law or
for five years under the proposed pay bill
These men. In addition to being natural
soldiers, are always found invaluable in the
training OF recruits. They will stay where
they are put. whether it be under fire or
not and they serve to lend TO every rcgl-
ment a spirit which is otherwise not easily
attainable. a provision for a thrce-yodr
term OF enlistment. with the privilege OF re-
cnlisung for one or more years up TO a