New-York tribune., 1886-03-08
POLITICS IN THE ARMY.
MAJOR-GENERAL POPE'S RETIREMENT.
TO BE RELIEVED FROM DUTY THIS wEEK--PRoM0.
TIoNs TALKED OF AND HOPED FOR.
(BY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUsEI

(Br TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUSE.J
WASHINGTON, March There is great ac-
tivity in what may be styled Army politics." and
Washington Of course is the OF the disturbance
Never before 10 time OF peace has President OF the
Unitod States had many military prizes to besow at
ono time. Within week Maio-General Pope will be
RETIRED and then it will become the duty OF Mr. Cleve-
land to appoint a new major general, two brgadier-
generals Two observation-disclosures and two majors, and
on down to the grade OF rsteutenauts to say nothing
OF several other officers below the OF lieutenant
COLONEL to I'LL existing vacancies The Army contains
large number OF held officers and some line officers who
held much higher rank during the til they do
atter twenty years additional service 1t also contains
many captains and first lieutenants who have been cap
tans and ieutenants since the war closed whose
hair has whltened in the service aud OF whom will
soon reach the age OF retirement Except by operation
OF the laws governing retrements the yearly number OF
casualties Is small Nobody, except the friends OF
Colonel d. scurgis OF the 7th Cavalry and they
merous seems to expect thath President will go below
the list OF brgsders to find successor for Pope and
nearly everybody believes that Brgadisr- General
Howard will be chosen.
IL Is well enough known that earnest efforts max
Ing to have him passel by again. this time IN favor OF
Miles or Crook the junior officer is Amed because he Is
not less aspiring than his comDetitor his friends
seem to be far more active and aggressive PROBABLY
General Crooks chance would DO better IL for
his failure" in Arizona General Howard has re-
mlned quietly at the hea la iarters OF his department.
attending to his duties aud visible evidence
that he has usht to interest outside influence in
his behalf In the field during the General Howard
was distinguished for his solderly qualities Of subJr-
diuaton aud he feels doubtless that he afford let
his cause rest upon the record OF his military services
alone. His friends confident that he will receive the
promotion he so justly deserves
There are forty colonels the active list and each
one OF them candidate for OF the vacancies In
the rank OF brlga lier general Among then three
men who held the rank OF general iriny the
an seventeen who held the rank OF brgader general
The list includes the names o, such officers
Grover. Joha p. Hatch, Merritt, Carr. Sturgs and
Grersop OF the cavalry Ayers and Getty of the artl.
lrry aud Csrn. McCook, Kantz y. b. wilcox, Brooke.
Ruser. Morrow ana Potter, Of the infantry It is re-
ported that the President several days
tue War Department for the records OF seven
eolones q infantry as follows: Wilcox Ku CarIin,
Morrow. Pottrr Brooke ani Kautz. o. course it was
surmlsed that this was done with view to comparing
them for tue purpose OF .kng selection for at least
one OF the vacant orlga Each Of these
officers held the RANK OF brlgstiergenera during the
be is the senior colonel IN the army and his military
record excellent Moreover it appears that when Mr.:
general The friends of CaTn SEEM 70 base @opss
not ony upon his distinguished military record-he
mauded division uni-r George II. TnOmIs at Cneka-
mauga-but also upon the fact stated that IN 1851.
wnen he wasa captain in tho 9Th Inf.ntry, he was
stationed at Buffalo Among The services he performed
at that time the future President thought OF going TO
the front himself Colonel j. II. Porters friends
e Of GensT @ Gant at ne ives, 'n Point EnS who C''
nov on the active list or the army Win not seriously
inlure his chance OF promotion
The friends OF General Ksutz remarked that he Is tho
only colonel or German birth in the army. He went
the Mexican war as private in an ONO regiment was
d scharScd after years service IN order that he might
enter the Military Acad-mv MS grttu ItiOl he
was gned as br yet ,coud i)uensDt TO he ih In-
fdntry, III winch eSlnent thit time Grant. Z. G.
Augur and LOlgstrect were serving as captains The
ouiy colonel Of infantry who held the rank OF major
general during tile not included In the reported
list lie Is A. Med. McCOOk, one or the " lighting Nc
Cooks" The cavalry colonel. w1o he'd the rank of
ma general are rrtt and GrieTson both Of whom
rendered distinguished services dnriug the
Coonels Ayers and Gstty. Of the artillery,
both rose 10 the rank or brEatier-general during
the The friend' OF Ayers hppstu thai In this
distrb ltion of prizes the artillery will DO rcmem
bered ini that hs will be the fortunate IN. IL -
saving often repeated that there's politics In tho
army" The saying is not true just Besides the
army Is In politics." G'naral Sturgs. II - said. has
obtained the names OF neary hunircI S;uators and
representatives 10 hts application fOs promotion %
Every applicant for promotion to
the rank Of briga liergeneral also sought and
secured the % backing" OF number or Senator'S aud
Representatives, many OF whom are taking personal
interest IN the great contest, which viii grow hotter
daily until the promotions are announced.