The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-10-22
rAE NAVAL OFFICERS CASTE.
No Seaman In Our Navy Can Obtain a Com
mission.

become n commissioned officer of the
United States. A sailor may have
learning, bravery and seamanship, each
in the highest degree, but he can never
command II ship or be anything higher
than a warrant officer. When he has
risen to that position the limit has been
reached. II has not always been 80.
In past times men, in few cases have
attained commissioned rank. After
the war q provision was made by con-
gress for selecting the brightest Of the
apprentice boys on board the training
ships and sending them to the academy.
But this practice was discontinued.
The opinions on this subject of some
sailors, marines, warrant officers and
commissioned officers were collected by
a World reporter.
The captain of the receiving ship Ver-
mont, who has more opportunities of
observing the sailor than any man in
the country, was indica ted at the navy
yard as the man best qualified to speak
upon the matter.
81 believe in the abstract principle
that men should rise," he said. 'If they
could pass a rigid examination they
mission as in the army. 1t would be a
good idea to send the best of the men to
the academy for two years to make
them conver SAINT with the theoretical
details of the profession. OF course only
those who had had some practical ex-
perience at sea and were studious should
be taken. The naval profession is more
technical than the military, SO the ex-
amina ton for seaman in the navy
about to become an officer should be
more rigid than in the same case for a
private in the army.
"The mod ern man-of-war is so COM
plicated that it would be hard for q
man to gain the requisite knowledge
without assistance. 1t would encourage
men and make a better class enlist if
they saw commission ahead of them.
In the marine corps romotion should
be as free as in the army. Nothing but
a lack of technical kn owledge should
be bar The best apprentices and
men should have a chance. The trouble
is that no provision is made for such a
thing. A limited mum er of bright fell
lows should be selected fr ON the ranks
and sent to the academy. Such course
would bn more in consonance with
American institutions. There is nc
earthly objec ton to it in my mind. II
would benefit the sc rvice and bring
first-class men in"
A lieutena MT of marines said that the
marines are too old, in most cases, tc
learn. They could not acquire sufficient
knowledge. If they are able, however
: | (bau cbnul6 tho dbanna
The eXecutiv e officer of the Atlanta
said that it was perfectly right thai
men who could pass the examination.
of the Naval Academy should get com
missions Sending apprentices to the
Naval Academy, however, was failure
When it was tried many apprentice!
entered, expecting to be sent to the
academy, and were spoiled for the serv
ice and every thing else when they die
not get there
Rear Admiral Walker, the command
ant of the North Atlantic squadron
said: "A man who shows himself com
petent should be encouraged. Not many
could do so. An officer nowadays ha
to have a great amount of technica
knowledge. There would be SO many
, obstacles to getting a commission tina
few men would go in for one. There
are so many chances for bright men il
5 priv ate life in this country that few
good men would be tempted to come
: 1t proba bly, would not be good policy
, since men would come into the servic,
for the sole purpose, of getting com
mission. Having failed, they would b.
discontentedand move heaven and eartl
, to get out. The marines, of course
7 should have the same chance as in tn,
l army.
> "When the best apprentices were ap
S pointed to the Naval academy sons o
t officers and sons of gentlemen woult
: enlist When they did not get a chance
> they pulled all sorts of wires and KEEP
all their political influence at work try
t ing to be discharged. The consequence
was that the apprentice ships were in
bad state. Instead of trying to turn ou
seaman, the whole service was subor
l dinated to sending ten cadets a year t,
the academy. The consequence wa
that the ships did not turn out goot
men," These are the opinions of the OF
ficers. The men unan imously disap
: proved of the present system
''The best men would stay in the nav,
if there were any chance to rise," saiC
: one sailor. "As it is, they leave at tn,
first opportuni ty, both for this reason
and because they are disgusted with th
prevailing system of caste"
a "There is no reason why men shoulc
: not make good officers" another said
: "The commissioned officers have n,
idea of practical seamanship This i
n the reason the ships are always getting
:, aground and into all kinds of scrapes
An officer goes to sea for three year
and then stays on shore for from thre,
to six years. Imposing a doctor or 1
: lawyer were to practice his profession
d for three years and then do something
S else for six years, would he be compe
c tentP They should be at sea four year,
: out of FIVE"
When this man was asked whether
if he had a chance to get commission
4 he thought that he could get enough
y theoretical knowledge to pass an exam
i ination, he said that he had graduated
y from school second in his class. Below
Q him was one who is now professor o
Greek at Harvard. He said that there
are numbers in the navy like him, whC
Q after a short period of study which
? they could do in their leisure time
t could pass rigid theoretical examina
: ton, and in practical seamanship woulC
. | caanH haa6 and ohot11are houa tLe