The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-09
WEST POINT AND ANNAPOLIS
Appointments should he Made Only
After Open Competition.

After open competition.
To THE EDITOR or III SrN-Sir: The
signing of the bill to increase the mum
Der OF cadets in the Naval Academy al
Annapolis from 1900 to LOO Is graft
flying, but 1t is to be regretted that no
change was made In the method or APP
pointment. for In the selection OF the
material out Of which to make officers
upon whose ability and conduct the fpte
of the nation may one day turn there
is a fatal defect in the system.
A system providing that all Of the raw
material out of which the Government
is to make army and navy officers must
pass through q political gateway is in
herently bad.
While many of those holding the
power distribute their recommendations,
which are equivalent to appointments,
will full consciousness OF the response
bility involved. there are also many
Senator's and Congressman who give
little heed 10 the fortunes OF the coun-
try. but. instead. use the owe of selec-
ton TO pay political debts. \ double
waste ensues y waste of money on the
part OF the Government IN carrying on
In the academies for "A year. or perhaps
longer, cadets whose failure is inevita-
BILE a waste OF opportunity to get The
light Kind OF boys. because under the
plan OF political preferment the most
able youth IN u Congressional district
may AVE absolutely no chance TO 60
either to West Point or to Annapolis.
having no friend at court"
The ordinary records OF the two acdde-
mics reveal the defects OF the system.
Al West Point about 33 per cent. of the
cadets drop out. At Annapolis In ordi-
nary times about Is per cent. OF the
.,VfIuhtvvYnv, .tVA,. ont Turing tho first
year and 2e per cent. drop out during
the four years course These figures do
not. however. include the recent up
heaval at Annapolis resulting in the
failure OF approximately eighty men OF
all four classes. though the average per
entage required in the course OF stud
was only G2.5 per cent.
Hut the influence OF politics doee not
end with the appointment OF the cadet,
nor even with his failure. The powerful
political hand that puts a ,oung man
INTO either academy may often be raised
% keep him there after ne has been
tried and found wanting. Al times q
twenty-five cent telegram may set all
IN. machinery Of u vast political organi-
cation into motion 10 save a failure
from dismissal.
1t has been estimated, unoih.ially.
that IL costs the Government upward o!
10000 to give a cadet IN either West
Point or Annapolis his course Of four
years. Assuming, however. that the
four years course costs even no more
nan IA course az Harvard or Yale. 10 j.
Stt,l too valuable "A thing to he l.:t "a
the eN~!gencies OF politics. The vast"
Of money that .nSues is the lesser -!
the two evils attached IA. weah.u.rg
of the army and the navy Is the great-r
"fll. for the weakness extends be! md
ia" men down Into the ranks
These appointments hc!Ou. - 'u'
" hole people and the door ~ the two
academies should De open To The Young
men In each Congressional district aAi
10 each Territory Who Ia competitive en-
aE.udtions have demonstrated that they
above all others are best .t,-d 80 g0
t. West po.ut or Annapolis.
le%soeuiziu- their responsibility and
tHe right ~ every Young man 10 az
poiu,m-u'. some congressman have -.
lect-d their candidates ny holding pub
IT, examinations. but the law goVcrUing
appointments should be So changed that
every official holding the power to zap
point would lie compelled 70 follow IL :
rule. such a course would bring uu,
the Very best material in each district
! would stimulate The II Oitiou Of many
youths. would fI." IA" academies from
The burden OF dcadwool, and when
unexpected Ntrai.jss dt occur thel =
would u" availab.. a LIST II men o.
! known ability from which 20 make So.
,ett.ou
The d-f-, l. OF the political system al
appointment have long been recognized
hN tuos" finiiiir'w.th Conditions az the
> academies. In Ia annual report ~
l9l2 t"e Superint. l"i'. colonel 80 =
| ToNuslry. uf West Tpi., sad