The spectator., 1921-02-25

nearly 100000 men In the field or ready to go into the field. For the greater part the members of this huge army have passed back into civil life. but the volunteer and draft forces have left problems behind them, while In the regular army there are scores 1 of troubles which need quick allaying if harmony is to be restored and in- l justices remedied.
 The chief of the general staff really is the head of the American army. Of course the President is the command CT in chief; Pershing is the command ing general, and the secretary of war Is, next to the President, the court of last resort and final decision; but the secretary of war depends largely on the chief of the general staff for advice. and almost invariably he fol- lows advice, when it is given.
 There will be new chief of staff appointed immediately on the coming into power of the new administration. As soon as the change is made there will be an attempt 10 find out definite ly how much truth there is in the charges of injustices which have been laid at the door of the present army chieftains. The senate of the United States also intends to take hand in the matter and with 1t the house of representatives will take such a hand as 1t can under the Constitution.
 Senate Holds Up Promotions. At present there are scores of army officers whose names have been sent to the senate for confirmation In ad- vanced grades. The charge freely is made that many of the men who have been named as brigadier generals are not as worthy of promotion as are | many of the men over whose heads they were jumped. The senate today Is holding up these nominations and will not give consideration until an opportunity is had for a thorough in- vestigation in each salient case. There are several thousands of younger officers who have been ap. pointed to the army recently, or who | have been promoted from one grade | to another, and whose names are now l before the senate. In these cases the senate probably will act and adminis- 1 ter confirmation fairly quickly, because 1 in these cases no controversy is in- volved, and to withhold confirmation would work hardship to the young men, and, moreover. the delay might, through some legal tangle, actually in- | validate their commissions
 Why Department of Education Is
 Urged.
 When President Harding was merely candidate for the high office to which he has been chosen. ne spoke of government welfare work in such a strain us to make many people be lieve that it is his intention to recon, mend that department of welfare be established with a cabinet officer in charge. The women of the country alive view of the case.
 1 It has been suggested that If a welfare department is established, ed. ucauon shall come within the scope 1 of It's supervision and work There are, however, many educators in the United States who are urging that separate department of education with a cabinet officer at its head, shall he established. The matter, of course, Is in abeyance and nobody knows what will come of it, but today there are extraordinary efforts being made to get the government to do more for the educational interests of the coun- try than it is doing at present.
 Some statements have been made re- gently fin printed form for distribution, which have been vouched for by high educational authority. These state mentS. seemingly are such as to sup port the arguments which were made l by nearly every candidate for the Dem ocratic and Republican nominations for the presidency. and by the two nominees themselves when they were l on the stump in behalf of their per sonal causes. Every candidate had something to say about the necessity of better pay and stronger senti- ment of support for the school teach CTS of the land, and urged further that the school facilities be increased, saying that 1t made little difference what the cost was, for the end was worth the price.
 Some Glaring Faults.
 Now the country is told through recent leaflet from the National Edu- cational association, these things: Educational authorities "who have 1 studied conditions carefully, estimate that of the 100000 public school teach CTS in the United States, 100000 are under the age of twenty-one; 30,0O0 have no education beyond the eighth grade; 10000 have no education be- yond the third year in high school 4S0,O00 (4-5 of the totaD have not had two years special training, the minimum recognized standard in other | civilized couptripS 4O OO0 tatnparary