The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-10-04
NOT APPOINTING CADETS.

The report comes from Washington
that members Of Congress are not ap-
pointing their full quote Of cadets to
the West Point Military Academy, and
the question is asked why this neglect
and whether the reason is the desire
for universal peace' or "the high
cost of living" We doubt very much
to the root of the neglect, for no mat
ter how much desire there may be in
the heart of any member Of Congress
for universal peace, he is not likely TO
lose on that account any opportunity
TO exercise his pereuisite Of making
an appointment in this or any other
position. While, as TO the high cost Of
living, that need not bother the cadet,
because the government pays the bill,
while his family would In most cases
be able to live without his help.
We believe the true reason for fail
ure to appoint the full number Of ca
diets to West Point to which Congress
men arc entitled, is because there is
of the West Point Military Academy
commensurate with that open on all
sides in civil life. The pay Of cadets
is small compared to that which grad
uates of colleges on technical lines can
easily command. When it is consid
cred, also, that promotion in the army
is extremely slow, that man may serve,
and do serve, until their hair is gray in
times Of peace and are not advanced
beyond the rank Of captain; while en-
gineers and scientific men Of ability
get quick recognition and large pay,
even before they have attained middle
life, the case is clear that the allure
ments of the military life fade and be-
come dim as compared with the attrac-
tions for young men in civic and pro-
fessional careers.
We believe that the latter is the real
reason why the appointments to the
military academy at West Point are
not sought as they have been hereto
fore, and why the attractions Of mill
tary life are regarded as inferior COM
pared with the attractions of civic life
in various pursuits. expert, professional,
and Of technical utility. A young man
who is able TO meet the examinations
Of West Point and to measure up to
the status of accomplishment therein
taught and impaired, can by going to
technical school attain knowledge
that Will enable him to pursue career
that will be infinitely more profitable
and more quickly fruitful OF fame,
money, and position than is possible in
the military line.
The military profession in time of
peace is by no means attractive as
compared with the callings Of civil life,
The work is hard, the requirements for
patience are exacting, the discipline is
often severe and in certain cases un-
just. The young man who goes into
military life faces all these difficulties
and disabilities, and besides, is pre-
vented from taking his full part as a
citizen and from exercising his liberty
of criticising things that do not suit
him, which are so fully enjoyed by the
civilian. On all accounts, therefore, it
is not surprising that the military pro-
fession is neglected at this time.
The government itself negects the
army; it refuses to put it upon mill
tary basis, and it scorns the advice Of
military experts, holding that any sort
Of political blatherskite is able to
deal with the army and to say what its
needs arc better than the best army
experts are able to do. At any rate,