The morning times., 1895-11-07
HIGH OFFICERS WARNED
Ludlow Case Marks a Revolution
in Military Methods.
MIR. CLEVELAND'S ACTION
His Refusal TO Approve the Findings
an Intimation That Subordinates
May Now Have an AppeaI-Per-
sonaI Resentment Said to Have
Figured In This Instance.

The refusal of President Cleveland to
approve the findings of the examining
board in the case of Commander Ludlow
is one of the most important cases con-
cerning the naval personnel he has taken
up since his Inauguration.
For century it has been a doctrine that
the duties of the Executive in such cases
was merely perfunctory. 1t was known
that he took particular interest In the selec-
ton OF the general officers OF the army
and the bureau chiefs of the navy. His
interest in the personnel was supposed
to end with such Officers, except when
pow erful influences were exerted III the
case OF special individuals.
His refusal, therefore, to consider the
action OF the examining board in COmman-
der Ludlow S case as conclusive has created
great interest In naval circles and VIII
undoubtedly have an important effect
upon the discipline or the service.
PERSONAL REsENTMEN
When Commander Ludlow was called
upon ten years ago to give his opinion or
a subordinate he spoke in excellent terms
of the officer. Eight years efterw ard.
with the same knowledge upon which to
base conclusions, he declared the same
lOA
Both OF these statements were made under
oath, and the form OF each showed that
Commander Ludlow prepared his answers
very deliberately. The subordinate has sat
isfied the President, at least, that on ma king
his second statement Commander Ludlow
has permitted his personal resentment to in
fuence his official actions.
Particularly in the Navy is the matter OF
record OF great Importance in determining
no Of nfr fnr
The authorities in Washington must give
great weight tot the hedecIaratiOnsof of comma nd
ing officers, and IL this great trust is TO be
violated and to be used as a lever for wreak-
ing vengeance upon interiors, the efficiency
Of the service will be paralyzed.
The Navy Department has gone to great
trouble in getting up form OF report for
determining the fitness OF officers for impor-
tant work and services Those who havs
been entrusted with the prerogauve of max
ing these reports b ave been compelled TO do
SO under the solemntty of an oath. They
are only made at periodical intervals, and
safeguards are thrown around for the pro-
lection OF the Individual.
PRESIDENTS DELIBERATE ACTION.
1t has been the intention of the Depart
ment to compel superior officers to make
definite charges The individual thus ae-
cused of specific offenses has q remedy
and protection in the reply which is per.
United tim.
In reviewing the proceedings and from
the long consideration which this case
has received it is shown that the Prest-
dent has acted with much deiiberat ton.
In SO doing Mr.. Cleveland bas served no.
uce upon the high officials OF the ArIay
and Navy that the characters OF subordt-
mates cannot be blackened by vague and
reveDgeful statements made years after
the facts took place upon which such un-
Just conclusions were made.
For some years there have been com.
plants that the great trust which has been
placed by the President, through the Navy
regulations, in the hands OF our flag and
commanding officer has been greatly
abused.
II the charge was true it was inevitable
that some one would sooner or later come
to grief through the abuse OF this trust
1t has been Commander Ludlows mis-
fortune TO be charged by no less an author
ity than the President with this offense,
for in disapproving the action OF the board
recommending his promotion the Presi-
dent substantiates this accusation.
The promotion OF many younger officers
has been delayed during the past year by
reason of the unfayorabIe reports OF com-
manding officers. and the question is now
being asked TO what extent has injustice
been done them?
The success that Commander Sperry has
met with may give encouragementto others
who have been wronged TO seek the pro-
lection of the President in securing Justice.
OTHERS MAY SEEK PROTECTION.
The only way in which punishment can be
meted out TO commanders who abuse their
trust will be in the manner in which Conn
mander Ludlow has been treated. Should
such an offender be brought to court
martial, he can plead no Intended malice
by declaring that he was sought for an ex-
preston of opinion, and that IL was not a
voluntary declaration.
When his own promotion is at stake,
however, his official acts OF the past are
matters of investigation, and that is ths
only time when the wronced individual can
receive due consideration.
The Navy Department would undOubt-
edly aid any junior in bringing to punish
ment any commander who had abused
trust, but it is almost an impossibility for
an inferior to collect evidence aboard a
warship against his commander
Just how new examining board can help
Commander Ludlow seems a mystery The
same evidence will probably BE- presented
and it must eventually go to the PFesidens
as the final reviewing authority.