BAD FOR FOB THE contingent PATRIOTS news comes from washington which Is ie bad for the contingent patriots by which term is here meant the american gentlemen who have expressed a willingness lin gness to eat army rations on the contingency that they can partake parta thereof in the officers mess than with the common low I 1 down soldier who enlisted just juat because he thought his country needed him instead of keeping his eye on the main chance the news is to the effect that thal most ot or the troops for which president mckinley McKin tey has ha 6 issued his second call balt will be used forthe purpose of fitting filling up existing regiments to their full capacity instead of creating new regiments the est estimate ignate is made that at least two thirds of the men enlisting under this second sigond call will be so disposed of leaving only about as material for new regime regiments fito this thi means that there will be fewer regimental officers by several hundred than would be e required were the whole af tea 00 recruits 10 be made fat into nw rt e fc mean e wo laljer lal adv jew e eral h hundred men who desire to b bo colonels majors captains etc from the word go will not be given the tha epaulets they so ardently covet before the same are earned it further means that a large number of men whose patriotism Is contingent on the commissions they have asked for will not en ter the service of their country but it is no doubt an advantage to the army to exclude from it as many as possible of the office seeking ilk I 1 an army officered by men who have been promoted after being tested Is far more likely to achieve victory and to pre serve a high standard of excellence than it would be if officered by kid glove gentlemen whose willingness to serve their country depends upon the willingness of the country to honor them first by giving them the commissions and emoluments of army officers it would be a grand thing for the army if it could be relieved of the th office seeker and political wire puller AS completely as the navy has been 01 the bane of american national life Is the pestiferous office seeker and that statesman who will devise a plan to rid the country of him will deserve a place by the side of washington and lincoln in the enduring gratitude of the american people