The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-17
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at The Ma
tiOnal Capital
awEsr POINT INFLuENcE."

promotion from the ranks ana tue volunteer
element that went into the Regular Army after
the close OF the rebellion, when the Army was
increased 10 give recognition to the men who
had fought that war through, and this line of
reasoning has been renewed by the recent ap-
poiutments of general officers TO command
troops.
There is great deal of nonsense about this,
and apart from some Of the youngsters gradu-
ated IN late years-who were babies when the
struggle was on-there are very few examples
where old graduates have in the least manner
ATTEMPTED 10 assume an alleged superiority
over The volunteers Of lS6l-b5; or for that
matter. over the men whose gallautry and good
conduct brought them from the ranks 10 make
brilliant regulations gallant and efficient
commanders. THE C0unoHeeTs" story Of his
glorious old battery commander is well in point
in the latter case. and needs no comment
in the appointment of general officers for
many years since the war the strictly volunteer
element has. it is true. been largely ignored,
fut much OF that has been due 20 the fact that
the majority of the old reEimental commanders
were men who, rs West Pointers, had been
pushed forward into high commands, where
they had won great distinction, and over
Swallowed tire newcomers.
About three years ago | prepared for these
columns digest of the Army Register, showing
the relative numbers OF West Pointers volun-
teers and men promoted from the ranks,-
Rankers" they call ihem,-who were then
officers in the Army. aud at that date even,
the West Point men were in the minority.
Minoritics do not usually rule hut sometimes
the minority may be closer 10 the powers that
be- and so rule by indrection.
30 far ] have shown the worst side OF the
idea that volunteers aud d" Raukers" have no
show rs against West Point, but at the risk Of
trenchiag Just bit on my former screed. let
me show something further. In the recent
rarnFfsaF5ons aud aVrBDr rUaaDfE saypu Of the
nine officers were not West Pointers, although
one OF them was ~ the Point for TWO years and
was dismissed for thrashing bullying upper
classuan, aud both OF tine new Majors are pro-
motions from the ranks.
Id has been the idea that West Point nau-
ence picked out all the peaches OF appoint
ments in the STAB Corps for West Pointers I;
and years ago when Col James Belger, who
had been promoted from the ranks, was APP
pointed an Assistant QuartermasteT the West
Point ring CT that dav held ~ hands in holy
horror. aud never let him alone until he was
so guiUstly and OutrAEe0nsly prosecuted cut Of
the service that Congress was forced 10 recOg-
uize the wrong done and 10 right il by restor-
ing him TO his rank.
I'm these later days things have changed i'm
mensely, and ] could give many instances for
example. but a. space is limited / will content
myself with one staff Corps.
stat appointments are the prizes above all
Others IN our Own A. well ar in ali foreign
armies. aud here the kid gloved one If all is
the .pcctor-General's Department. 1t is a
dread!ully close corporation Of only seven OH
GERS; but Of the seven now holding commits
sion, only one ever saw West Point as a stu
dent. The other six from Gen. Breckenridge,
the senior, to Maj. sanger, the junior served IS
volunteers, and both 0f the COioneis and Lieut.
Col. LaWton began work ia 1861 enlisted
men
For the last dozen Of years there has been
more sentiment than reality in the idea that
West Point rules the Army and the trouble mas
been that writers coming in contact with
youngsters too fresh from the Point to have
found out that there WAS more 10 learn ia serv-
ice than is taught at the Academy. get the i'm
preston that those blatant youngsters voice
the feeling Of al their kind throughout the
service.
j think the volunteers and " Rankers" will
hold their own for many years yet 70 come.
10 COMMAND THE ARMY EIGHT YEARS
The elevation o. Gen Miles 70 the rank Of
Naiyr-L. gncTtl j. Of considerable interest To
Washington. in addition to tie personal feel
ing for so gallant soldier, for, II has life is
spared, be WiA he i0F az least eight years sta
TONED here IN command ct the 4 YIuv a. GEN
eral-in-ChIcl from the time Mai.-Gen ScSofeld
retres for age sept -, I-J5,-foF Maj. Gen.
Howard retiTes a year earlier, Nov. Z 1894
since tie Var 81 1912 OF c0urse. if Divine
Providence saw fit To remove the hero u Frank
Inland IF AL the other battles that Gen. Geo.
III. Thomas iou CHIT or The greatesg ol Christian
soldiers, Gen. Miles's term Of command Of the
Army W Gla De 50 much the longer.
The reference 10 Gen. Howard reminds me
Of a i5uie story that Was laughed AT quietly in
the service Rlmost tH0 years ago, even "a men all
hearts we're sadaencd AZ the death Of Gen.
Sheridan. and IL D. so pointed that VIII tell il
even a. The risk Of having il striker out by the
editor Is iTregerlut even if decidedly relevant
During the period Of anxiety over Gen.
bherldaIi's condition, while be lay ia the dark
eued Sogm az bis home here a young man came
fresh 10 y Washington to represent "a Northern
paper who was not well posted on military
matter. % the personnel VI the Army. Pluhg-
1n2 aLyut Tor fresh news on tue subject OF Gen.
eheTidaB's case. ID occurred 10 him 10 find out
Who would succeed IN command in case death
ended the herO's suffering. and he succeeded IN
getting al Interview vita q very distIngui shed
retired oiEcer whose name aud deeds arc
written broadly IN the history Of the war, and
20 him be put tie question:
Who would succeed 10 the command Of the
Army 4 Gen. Sheridan diesl"
ANY oiicer that The President NAV assign D
was Tie reply that astanisIed LIE yOangster.
e But who is next u r4Akr Would he moi
BDcceedf"
Md Gen. SchoGeld is next in rank. but b,
would not necessarily succeed by virtue Of hii
seniority. The President might assign Gen
Howard or Gen. Crook or one Of the Brigad Ter
Genera; De would not be apt ~ 20 below thai
grade. tut could IL be waited TO-"
"IIOwar4-GeH. q. O. Towards lie In The
Army"
lie Is the Major General next in rank {.
Gen. -all0held"
Why. said the surprised youngster. 81
knew he had been General 10 the war but
Thought be bad some big position ia one Of tn
church denominations"
We'll" said the veteran with sIightlv-sar
castle stalle, " he has bat il is IN addition /,
lie Army position" and M the youth iookes
With InqglTing eyes. LG continued, he j. con
tdentlal adviser Oh earth 10 tie Almighty. An,
besides that lac gIges advice 70 The Pre-idsn
aud Congress on al public matters, aud rent
himself out a. ~ example Of how blamed poo,
d man can he 0B earth"
The young man had a suspicion that be wa
being fugod, aud backed Out without askini
more questions.
THE RECENT ARMY PROaOTIORE
The daily newspapers, in commenting on th
promotions an the Army consequent upon Ga,
appointment Of Gen. GTiers0n 70 be Brigad ieF
General, have got drcadfulIy mixed 40. ant
have confused these promotions with other
made just before.
u be only point on which they are right /
that al of the promotions are ia the CAVIAR,
regiments; the arm Oi Lie service that il leae
IN sore need Of rapid changes FulIavipg 1