Charlevoix county herald., 1916-11-17
HEARD AT THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL

Washington, Nov. Is. Special Cor
respondence) Whatever explanations
may be made by those interested, the
fact is indisputable that the army pre-
paredness act of the Wilson administra-
tion has been miserable failure. Un-
der the old law the maximum authoriz-
ed strength of the army was 1l3,564,
and there was then an actual strength
of S6,607. The new law authorized an
emergency increase of 10000 and made
changes in the law which were design
ed to increase enlistments. In the last
thirteen months only 1860 men have
enlisted and the strength is now placed
at 99, 257, or 14,307 below the authorized
strength of the old law and more than
$4,000 below the maximum of the new
law. The fact probably is that in spite
of the strenuous efforts made by the
administration to persuade men to en-
list, there has been such general lack
of confidence in the Wilson manage
ment of military affairs that compare
lively few men cared to enlist, even
when they had the inducement of ac-
tive service.
In his last speech of the campaign,
President Wilson made one admission
which received no public attention but
which is of vast importance, in view
OF the tendency toward government
ownership. Discussing the enlarge
ment of the service of the Department
of Agriculture, he said that "the whole
process has illustrated a very note
worthy and interesting fact, the stimu-
lation and development come from out
side the government rather than from
inside the departments" This is one
Of the most serious objections to govern
ment ownership. In the government
service there is no encouragement for
individual effort. This has been es-
pecially true under the Wilson admin
istration. Men in the ranks in the
different departments see no incentive
to extra effort and no reward for spe-
cially valuable service, for the higher
positions are frequently filled by men
of no experience and with no claim to
recognition except the political service
they have rendered in the past
Because there is little prospect of re-
ward for real merit in government SER
vice, under the policies pursued by an
administration such as this, men who
are really ambitious to serve the coun-
try effectively, soon lose their interest
and fall into ruts. AS President Will
son admits, the development and the
stimulation come from outside the de-
partments. And so it will be under
government ownership of telephone,
telegraph, and railroad systems, if the
government ever commits itself to the
ownership and operation of these utili-
ties.
Southern Democrats are not at all
pleased with the manner in which
Attorney General Gregory issued state
ments regarding intimidation of voters,
| just before election. This was design
ed, of course, to create the impression
that the intimidation existed in Repub-
lican circles, and in Northern States.
Mr. Gregory declared his intention to
vigorously prosecute infractions of the
law against intimidation. He overlook
ed the fact that the only part of the
country where there is open and whole
sale intimidation is in the South where
practically half the voting population
does not dare go near the polls on elec-
ton day. 1t is quite evident that when
Mr. Gregory begins his prosecutions,
he will be impressively reminded OF
conditions in the section of the country
from which he halls, and he will be re-
minded of his official obligation to en-
force the law impartially.
II is reported in army circles that
strong recommendations will be made
in the forthcoming annual reports for
the abandonment of the army horse
and mule and the substitution of the
motor tractor for the hauling of heavy
artillery. II is claimed that the cost of
maintenance will be much less, as the
motor requires little expense when not
in use, while the horse must be fed and
stabbed at all times. Moreover, it is as
serted that tractor will turn heavy
gun in a shorter space than the teams
necessary in handling heavy guns.
A quiet wedding may be but the calm
| hefore the storm