The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-03-18

ever since have been for precisely
the detectives that the great major
ity of these officers think highly in
imical to the best interests OF the
United States.
Incidentally, freedom for the Phil
ippines in a way cheapened what to
these officers was an important part
of the service they had rendered
their country-made their own lives
just little less important.
But Quezon in his speech to the
veterans showed the same sort OF
political intelligence that has char
acterized most OF his adult life. He
made two strong points, one purely
sentimental, the other very practi-
cal indeed, to these men who be-
heve in adequate national defense.
The sentimental appeal justified
the Importance of this chapter Of the
life of the United States army and
navy.
Pleases Army Men
1t YVES just little war, more like
a game, Quezon began with a broad
smile. It sounded like an insult,
and many stirred uneasily in their
seats. "Why should Quezon belittle
what his hosts had done?" one Whis-
pered to his neighbor.
Whereas, look at the World war.
and American participation-What
it cost In lives and treasure.
But every objective stated In adj
vance by United States spokesman
as to the Spanish-American war is
now attained. Quezon rushed on.
Cuba is now free. The Philippines
are en- route to freedom.
Whereas, what became OF the OBJ
jectives stated by American spokes-
men as the United States entered
the World War--to make the world
safe for Democracy, etc.
He really made quite case for
the glory and honor OF the men
who had participated in the Spanish
American war-and for the place in
history the results of that war would
hold despite its military insignifi-
canoe
Having warmed the hearts OF the
veterans with this tonic, Quezon
played another string He told them
why he had forced universal mill
tary training in the Philippines.
When some other nation should
come to those islands, the Filipinos
would not only know how to die,
which they had proved in the revo-
luton, but they would know how to
fight, he stated, and the cheers were
thunderous from his old enemies. He
did not mention Japan, or that en-
pire's alleged ambitions to take
over the Philippines, but he painted
4 picture which left no one In doubt
what he meant them to understand.
1t was universal military train
ing, however, more than the Japan
angle, that appealed to the old SOL
diers and sailors. How they want
to see 1t brought to this country,
how. helpless they are about accom-
plishing that at the moment, and
how they loved his arguments for It'll
eve are teaching our citizens"
he said, their duties to their coun-
try first, before we teach them what
are their rights"
The applause could have been
heard at the White House, two
blocks away!
Amusing Situation
When young Henry Cabot Lodge,
Jr., the thirty-four-year-old baby
senator, was running against James
M. Curley. Massachusetts, political
war horse, last year, Curley's back
ers we're constantly insisting that
Lodge was too young, and stressing
the Importance Of age. Now Lodge
finds himself involved in his first
big senate battle, and the chief idea
of his opponents is that Supreme
court justices are too old!
All OF which Is Is amusing, but then
SO is the discussion of age of the
justices at all in this connection.
For, as senators opposing President
Roosevelt point out, his plan would
not remove the older justices-it
would merely put additional justices
in with them-and that there is moth
ing to prevent court of fifteen
justices, all of whom might be over
eighty. at some future day.
Not that the President desires
this, but there is no legal way of
forcing justices-even the six new
ones who may be appointed if and
when the President wins his fight
to retire at any given age The only
way that can be accomplished is by
constitutional amendment, to which
of course apply all the objections
the President has to solving the
other problems by constitutional
amendments would take too long
and be too easy for a militant mi
nority to block.
One of Senator Lodges closest
political advisers during his cam
palgn, incidentally, was more than
eighty years of age. But friends,
IN snickering over the paradox pro-
duced by the attack on his youth
during his campaign and the attack
on age in the first big fight he en-
countered in the senate, point out
that age ic diffarapt ira M,ce.oL,,