New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-29
GOVERNMENT AS BUSINESS
With Some Thoughts on Our Future
Army.

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Thoughts and views. sometime role-
ant and sometimes irrelevant, will float
through ones mind. II is real qualification
for us TO see, in cold print, opinions which
The mere public exposition and critici may
.how to be wrong and yet sometimes seem
20 be clearly correct
To my mind, government is cold, nara
proposition, with not much room for the
rumanitics. An executive should properly be
"a cold business machine, free from ideals.
lie cannot represent a particular class; he
must represent the whole. An average popu-
lation is made up of idcdlists. sentimental
lite. phianthropists. expansionsts. fataLsts.
mlitarists. pacihsts, ambitionists and con
-crvatists in fact, all kinds, ad infnitum.
All are entitled to their views. The only
exception is the Chief Executive.
Events face US which may result IN a ait
uation only to be handled with cold, calm
national sclf-interest. backed by steam
roller Business and government are much
alike Two example of business brutality
Will afford an example. An acquaintance Of
rlne discharged a man who thought was
invaluable. | asked him why. He replied
that 10 had struck him that he could get
along without him. and he always took the
benefit Of the doubt. even if he reinstated the
nan later by necessity. Another ease was
tod me by very rich man who obtained
position for n deserving poor acquaintance.
II the end Of the year the omployc was dis
charged without any explanation. The rich
patron finally succeeded in Obtaining an ex-
rlanation. The empioye had shown too much
ability. As the concern expressed IL, they
wanted no more partners" What kind Of an
executive would it take properly to repre-
sent such men? Yet they are entitled to
representation.
What am really after is the steam roller.
For the government it is the army and navy.
We appear 20 have good navy, beautifully
Offered and manned. Mr.. Roosevelt doubled
it's capacity by pushing through the Panama
Canal. II is the army which makes us look
arhaet What would New York City do with
police force Of five hundred men? How
long would il be safe for any man with 81
3D. his inside pocket? Emperor William re-
carded the English army as such miseT-
able affair. How would he describe ours ]
would like TO hear The Trlbunc's views Of
the army question.
My views may seem presumptUOus. but they
mock in my head for an airing: Four com
pete army corps say about two hundred
thousand men ono corps for each corner OF
cur country. Kept in the full light Of tho
.ay. Additional troops for service outside OF
;hc states proper. \ genuine national de
fence guard" drawn by conception for .
,hreC-ycar term. or enrolment. Ninety train
ing days out OF each year Compensation al,
discharge Of 5000. The yearly draft Of one
sixth Of ! per cent of the total male popula
ton, native. The volunteer system TO be
dropped absolutely.
Oar situation appears undiguiGed We
carry little weight. We are in no position TO
enforce any demand. Our strength lies
wholly IN our isolation. but I can easily con
c,irc Of situation where that would prove
80 be an error We are 2 world power. with
is resultant responsibilities We had better
Aiake the mistake Of Ovcrestmating the ne
cossity Of preparedness than OF committing
political hara-kri We can outlive the first,
he other means death.
I'm tn day of all We may not only
nave % put ourselves on a strong military
iasis. but We may have TO look around pretty
sharp Cor a suitable ally. or possibly allies.
uElcs, We want 10 hirt with extinction.
New York, Nay %, 1918. READER.