New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-04-09

plete statistics covering the entire 0p-
Grafton of the draft up to July II,
1919, show the following results which
are truly remarkable:
Out of 2 registration OF 23,90S.578
men. there were reported $4,000 cases
of desertion, or a total of 2.O4 per
cent Of the total registration. OF this
number. it appears that Isl 1854 cases
were accounted for by enlistment in
our own armies Snd those of II al
lies and Induction of aliens
and other r~egistrants. so that the to-
tai of net assertions was reduced to
337, 640. or 1.41 per cent of the total
registration. OF this last number 1884,
1873 men have been apprehended and
their cases disposed of. leaving an
actual balance Of outstanding cases of
desertion In which the offender has
neither been accounted for nor pun
ished 1921 or O.72 of / per cent of
the total registration.
II, therefore appears that out of a
/ total registration Of more than 23,OOO.-
600 men but. la per cent wrongfully
sought to escape the military obliga-
ton imposed upon them by the selec-
tive service law, and that at the, pres
ent time but 0.T2 iof. 1 per cent of the
entire registration group have failed
to respond to the duty imposed upon
them and have not yet been brought
to justice. 1t also appears that be-
tween September II, 1918, and June
30, 1919, $4,000 deserters have been
apprehended and delivered to the mil
itary authorities for disposition. 1t Is
thought that within the next IL months
the total OF net outstanding desertions
will be materially reduced, so that the
final result will show a percentage
very much less than the present low
figures stated above.
Not the least interesting informa-
tiOn that the final compilation of sta.
draft discloses is its cost. The total
amount appropriated by congress for
the expenses Of the ~selective service
system was S54.S96,9O8. OF this
amount. $3O.s47 ,914.24 was expended.
People Are Neglected.
The Virgin islands in the Caribbean
sea, which recently came into posses.
sion Of the United States through
purchase from Denmark. must be
Americanized. This is tho gist OF
the report of the joint congress.
sional committee which made a
trip to the Islands for the purpose OF
looking into the allegation that the
United States is neglecting the wei
fare of the islands. This country has
had so many big problems to deal with
since it bought these islands that II
has really paid very little attention tC
them. As sOon as title to the islands
passed from Denmark to the United
States President Wilson issued an or
der which committed the government
Of the islands temporarily to the navy
department. That order was issued
about the time the United States wa
getting into the war with Germany
Ever since that order was promulgat
ed Rear Admiral ]. w. Oman, U. s
~, has served as governor Of the Is
lands. The power conferred on tn,
admiral was limited and he has. II
seems, not attempted any reforms. be
cause he felt that he was not author
lied to do so.
The senators and Representatives
who made up the joint committee tina.
visited the Islands was very emphatic
In the declaration that this countr,
must either do something for the IN
habitants of the group Of islands o.
turn the islands over to some govern
ment that will take an interest in thu
people. The outstanding features o
the report of the joint committee
which will shortly be submitted to thu
two houses of congress. are embodied
in the following recommendations:
), Q) American ideals and American
standards as far as possible shall b.
made the ideals and standards Of thes'
possessions. (2) An American form O
civil government should be estab
lished for the group OF Islands. q
United States currency should b
adopted in the islands. az An educa
tional system adapted to the needs o
the inhabitants should be provided ant
departments dealing with industrial
affairs, agriculture and sanitation
should be established without delay
The government never has put fort
any clear statement as to why the Is
lands we're purchased. 1t was said a
tie time of the transfer that the
would be useful to the navy OF tn
countr I'm case the United State
should ever be attacked by a foreig
foe. The truth seems to be that tn
islands had become a burden to Der
mark. which offered to sell them to tn
!, United States at a ~knockdown pric
and that this government conclude
that the offer was a bargain and nc
cepted It. Whatever the justification
for the purchase of the islands, 1t no.
is incumbent on the United States. az
cording to the joint congressional con
, mittee, to do something for the inhab'
tants and do II at once. The commit
tee will report to congress that tn
people are not any better of unde
!. American rule than they were unde
|, the Danish rule.
|. Group Of Fifty islands.
. While only three islands In tn
=, group wei get public mention ther
! are, all told, some fifty islands tina
cam into the possession Of the Unite
: States. For the most part these 81
, called islands are merely rocks sticl
. ing out Of the water and are uninhal
! tied. The three principal islands, an
/, indeed the only ones that have an
value worth mentioning. are s
Thomas, st. Croix and st. John. Thes
, three islands, which lie close togethei
% -.n--.Aa Il Dnrfa DIon nhail