THE CRY OF THE DEFEATED

The final selection of men to attend the Plattsburg camp has aroused some complaint, most of it apparently coming from men outside the University. In any game of life, foolish or real, there are always some among the losers to complain; although in most men the spirit of Saxon fairness is strong enough that they may bear defeat like gentlemen.

The only Boston paper which would conceivably do such a thing has darkly insinuated that preference was given in the choice to Harvard men or other men with social prestige. It voices the woes of those hundreds of unsuccessful applicants who received their yellow slip, but got no further. The inference is that University, and therefore presumably mediocre or incompetent, men were chosen ahead of those sturdy and honest sons of Boston who were more eminently fitted to be officers.

Such an accusation, however hidden, coming at this period is barely decent. The examining officers know the physical and mental abilities of some hundreds of would-be officers who, keeping a wise weather eye on the draft bill, decided they would rather carry an officer's sabre than a private's rifle, although they had not the physical stamina to carry either on parade, nor the moral stamina to carry either in battle. It is largely such men who are now whimpering that they were not chosen. It need not be said whether their first thought is for their country's strength, or for their own paltry egoism.

As a general thing it may be said that, while some good men failed to be admitted to the camp, it was because preference was given to better.

It is also reported that the Honorable James Curley, mayor of all Boston, has protested to Secretary of War Baker against the injustice being shown to many Bostonians in choosing Harvard men in preference to Bostonians, although the Harvard men might not reside here. We presume that Congress did not intend to divide appointments like it divides postoffice appropriations. The mayor's protest smells of pork. Did he make it for love of country, that better officers might lead our armies? Did he make it from some sudden, unaccountable, and overweening sense of justice?

You are quite right. The mayor was playing politics.