320 Presidential Addresses 



that he was the best. But there must be proper 

 training, proper organization and administration, in 

 order to get the best service out of even the best 

 troops. This is particularly the case with such a 

 small army as ours, scattered over so vast a country. 

 We do not need a large Regular Army, but we do 

 need to have our small Regular Army the very best 

 that can possibly be produced. Under the worn-out 

 and ineffective organization which has hitherto exist 

 ed, a sudden strain is absolutely certain to produce 

 the dislocation and confusion we saw at the outbreak 

 of the war with Spain; and when such dislocation and 

 confusion occurs it is easy and natural, but entirely 

 improper, to blame the men who happen to be in 

 office, instead of the system which is really respon 

 sible. Under the law just enacted by Congress this 

 system will be changed immensely for the better, 

 and every patriotic American ought to rejoice; 

 for when we come to the Army and the Navy we 

 deal with the honor and interests of all our people; 

 and when such is the case party lines are as noth 

 ing, and we all stand shoulder to shoulder as Ameri 

 cans, moved only by pride in and love for our com 

 mon country. 



AT MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA, APRIL 7, 1903 



My Friends and Neighbors: 



I am very glad to see you all. I made up my 

 mind that come what would I would stop at Me- 

 dora. I first came to Medora twenty years ago, so 



