Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-02

with equity ard tgxtAcr Ire ccatrAescs4ans
and iae9utiseS that have cvveaop~d II uals-
sAry pay. II provided incentive .rcrwAScs nj
executive Levels Yet FOX precisely tnas RIA
son. tie proposal ~As ceEosRie6 by scrae ~
q brass hat bin designed 10 cushion CT
GERS and e1c4aos enlisted men cr4i1cs g.
the military too often attribute 10 all CT.
GERS the nAlfeaxAnees Of few Three cuy
Of every I'VE dollars II the proposed rrst
year cost for pay revision scse ,Aaa~d .aE
enlisted mea-gnoSt G. them headers IN the
noncomnlS2onec grades approximately
one hall Of one per cent would have goEs
10 reward the brass who wear stars
once had hoped that we might lay away
forever the cruel Action tina, ocscer nsfya-
lege has splinieTed the services into castles
Of HAYES and hAse-nots We; we are stall
subjected 10 the perennial SANDERS OF those
who seek success for themselves In clvtl lge
and Witty success III the service We arc
stiu beiaoored by the suspicion that rank
in the Army Is . reward for rtllAtny. While
success II business Is rrVeged as achieve
meni. success IN the Army Is nolSlly con-
demned as i'm American and un~cemoeratlc
II Is time we rejected the cheap emotion
alisn that panders to the appetites a ihnce
IN hunt O! the services as = whipping 10y.
1t Is time we acknowledged that leadership
In the armed forces Is a virtue that benefits
For II we are honestly concerned for the
welfare OF the American soldier. our mrs;
consideration should be for the quality @.
the men who command him. II Is the con-
petence Of this leadership and the quality
of this command that may readily spell the
difference between his life and death II
battle.
High-G Grade ofIlc~rs Essential
In their constant efforts to drive a wedge
between ofacers and men, the lt-pro-
claimed champions Of the American Oh are
doing him his greatest disservice. Our only
hope for a military establishment that ~ill
safeguard the dignity protect the rights.
and give expression 10 the human needs Of
men lies in the recruitment Of officers and
leaders with the intelligence and compassion
TO fuldl those wants. Again. submit
these are the men whom We deny with
bargain basement incentives,
That this Nation is prudently on guard
against undue military influence in the con-
duct OF It's affairs is comforting evidence OF
the jealousy with which We prize free gov
eminent, For while that vigilance does
reflect dlstrust in military power IL also
distinguishes the vigor of our democracy
and the determination of our people TO gov
ern themselves according 10 the dictates of
their conscience.
Because the histories OF other nations are
smeared with tragic results of the concen-
tration OF power in the hands OF those with
weapons. we have wisely surrounded our
military with fortress Of civilian controls,
However. the best guarantee against this
concentration Of force In the hands OF
few is TO make certain that the military is
possessed OF the same fervent love for free
dom. the same jealous love for country, that
dwells in the most conscientious citizens
they are sworn 10 protect. Our sturdest
guarantee against militarism must be era
died in the military establishment itself
To assure this. we must have armed forces
composed Of men with sensitivity. intellect
and good conscience-men who will nourish
faith IN the essential nature of freedom to
peace In the world-men who viii nourish
faith In the Importance Of self government
to happiness In our lives.
When We speak OF the armed services as
business Of people. these are the people
We want