The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-09-16
The Jack TarS are Assured OF
Real Democracy in The
Navy
Secretary Daniels Has Made
Up His Mind To Improve
Their Status IN Every Con-
SiStent Way.

DUNG the next fou. Nears. tn. -
listed man IN he United states navy
coming into his own life. without any
iNed lines ~ detrtt. policy LAID or
to that end. Secretary Daniels n.S
made up his mind TO lmproN. rh.
status Of the Jacktar in ever. Nay
consistent with What he conceive. H.
be the best features Of the present
81 respect. he said. the tradition.
or the American navy, and / have 10
sential distinctions between the c.u.
missioned ranks which max. for as-
cipilne. What | aim to do, howeN.f.
Is 10 attract the better cisss n men
TO enlist ty opening the venue s.:
advancement 10 men already IN th-
navy. mat Is the one end for Whlen
! strive.
For example. the department mex
month will hold an examination for
appointment to the grade II assistant
pay master, in which there are twelve
vacancies. Heretofore persons per
mitted to take these examinations
have been from civil life. and owed
their opportunity TO the favor of mem
oers OF Congress or the President.
Limited TO SAILOR.
AAAS NAiAiN ~ j Iifue a It1itN
which have ~inaugurated, the list II
candidates will be limited entirely 20
J enlisted men, and the examinations
will be so modified as TO include only
those essentials necessary To the aver
age cashier in a mercantile cstab
ms | do not mean that all en-
listed men Will have the opportunity
TO take these examinations, but crlN
e those whose integrity can be ouche
Tor by their commanding officers.
] Il believe. too, that tn. enlisted
man who, by persistent attention 10
6 his duties, and hard study. fits him
t self to stand Y limitations for com
mission. should he encouraged. ana
not cast down by sensehess barriers ~
class prejudice. II | insist uIon
8 tent, ] am not an enemy Of necessary
a distinctions between couIniss, oned
: and nonCommiSSioned men.
Has Improved.
Il meant what | SAID whcu, n
i. addressing The graduates ~ III. Naval
Academy last June. ! toIC them rhat
they would command men Of higher
. morals and more intelligence. than had
' ever before served in the ranks. The
= tone Of the enlisted ranks has been
: gradually improving since the day
. before the civil war. when the SAILOR
"a brave as he was, was regarded As Nttl.
above the hrutf IN the treatment 49,
corded him. This IS - d.
encouraged. and men Of brains IN ia,
= navy have been trying for wears -
: devise means Of attracting good meT
to the navy and keeping them there.
. "Wheu ! became Secretary Of th'
Navy ] found the enlisted ranfs .aGl'
depleted. DeseTtions WEI. great aEt
the recruiting ~as SLOW. ] nuntc'
about for the cause. ana found 4.
believe. in the discomfort q NOR uh.
& found Themselves. once in tn. navy
- GnIf off from GyLnC.rT atrf ON
NiOuSly. however. those men must nav
" the bass of education hefcr. hey "a
aspire to advancement. and am ma
| have been doing with the NaVa
~ Training School. in whIcn th- rudi
= ments Of education supplied has tes
based on q desire 10 give fn@ men
= foundation upon winch hoy ."ail
- build their opportuniue frr promo
~ ton.
~ Disguised BY Cour'e.
- "NnatcNer is done for rhe aaN. "e"
ment OF the enlisted mar HoweNer.
&c predicted on tEe)reSpcet which IN
nation-at-larce j. Willing to 49,. q
its fighters IN the ranks. Tina ! wh
il has Disguised me So mat pros"e,I
ting officers IN various parts - IN
- country still persist in Offering TO me
= accused Of crime the alternative ,
- punishment Of enlistment IN th@ nav,
sc How ar We improve the posiup
: Of the enlisted man unless n" -ni4stt
man mas Sol respect. anu nov 80
u self respect exist among men Who al
forced to associate T.th CRIMINALS an
10 the rIfraf # the country.
le Secretary Daniels ideas nave ~
1t been advanced in the ~dspartr.f
= without opposition The olG lass a.
20 ti%nctiors are almost IS strong Is 80.
in the commissioned ranks. .Wa 9ui
recently dld the Secretary und
w. necessary TO pleltfe *.
OF lexamining board which had place
ne low on the list q successful ..ro
s. dates for commissions in the 2-rtr
Corps. an enlisted man whose nj
n. ten examination va. nesr to r. ID
as turned III cy more than fftt .ano
IS dates. many II whom were ara~
y. from colleges ard un.N.rAftes