New Britain herald., 1915-06-26
OUR ARMY OFFICERS.

manufacturers have been accused by various interests of breaking all laws of neutrality Not much attention has been paid to these insinuations, be- cause 1t has always been held legal to sell commodities wherever there is a buyer. That is the law of Com merce. But now comes another and greater accusation against the manu- facturers, and one Which vitally ef- fleets the government of the United States The manufacturers are held to be responsible for making inroads on the United States Army by taking from it's ranks the recognized experts of ordinance.
 Secretary of War Garrison. has been so impressed with the demand creat- ed for army officers by commercial interests that he has grown appre- nensive for the welfare of the service. Already six of his best men have re- signed from the army. two more are prepared to go, and it is known many have been pro-offered remunerative
 In order to protect one of the most vital branches of the United States Army the Ordnance Department, Secretary Garrison realizes some step must be taken to prevent his experts from decamping. To this end he sends to the Attorney General of the whether officers of the army have the inalienable right to resign their com missions in time of peace
 Before Attorney General Gregory has time to look into all the phases of the matter Secretary Garrison's re- quest can be answered by Secretary knows what inaleinable rights any man has in this country. Of course, calling upon the highest legal official in the United States lends more eclat and elegance to the proposition. and may have a moral effect upon these army officers who are tending their but one thing, if based on the Dec laration of Independence, upon which has been founded the Constitution of the United States. Said our fore-fath- ers:-
 We hold these truths to be
 self evident, that all men are
 created equal; that they are en-
 dowed by their Creator with cer-
 tain unalienable rights"
 And one of these "certain unalien- able rights, is that men no matter who they are. can, under tine Con- stitution of the United States. ply their trade or. profession wherever, and with wl1omever they chose, pro- viding, of course, there is work to be done. When man signs a contract he cannot be called free agent. That sign no contract They are not en- listed, neither do they pledge them selves to serve for any definite per- iod Except when a condition of war obtains, the army officer is at liberty to resign whenever he desires to leave. According to his contitu- tional right he may do so. There are numerous instances of men who have left the service.
 Had Secretary Garrison made out his proposition on moral and not le- gal grounds it can, be seen where the army officer is not wholly justified is leaving his profession for the more -remunerative fields of commercial ism But his conscience is the only law to hold him in the service in time of peace. This is the day Of commercialism. There is no money in the army. Army officers are the highest type of men They have conn pleted a course of study that elevates them to the higher fields of learning. Yet their pay is not commensurate with their ability. That, however, is not the fault of Secretary Garrison. It is the Government to blame. We are not able to pay these men higher salaries. On the outside. at this rar- ticular time they are able to secure positions that mean more to themsin in point of monetary value.
 If army officers are by < necessity driven to seek pastures new in the hope of laying up something for those depending upon them, Secretary Gar .rison should ask Congress, when it meets in December, to do something toE a1inxyiafn tf1ic nondition