Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-29
HIS CHOICE is CRITICISED
President MaKinlsy's Appointment Of Mr..
Charles HcOawley.
Expectant Omccrs Said to BE Indig.
pointee-COl. Heysvood's Views.

The nomination Of Charles L. McCawley
was sent to the SeEate by President Nc
kfnley yesterday for captain and assistant
quartermaster of the Marine Corps. Mr.
McCawley is a civilian, and Is at present
chief clerk to Col. Haywood. His father
was commandant of the corps. and Mr.
McCawley occupied the same position I'M
der him and retained the place.
some criticism has been aroused by the
Fresidents action. rs there are a number
OF heutenants. several of them Annapolis
graduates, who have been waiting wears
1or the appointment. Jealousy has been
aroused on this account, and it has been
stated that the candidate is not eligible
LOT the position. as there is a lazy in the
Revised Statutes which provides that mo
person under twenty or over twenty-five
years OF age shall be appointed from civil
ire as commissioned officer Of the Ma
rine Corps" o 1'-"
MT McCawley is over the prescribed
I'M nnlt IN thlS respect. and friends Of the men
VINO nave been left out in the cold ara
urging strongly the fact that 1t positively
preciudes the appointment If the Senate
should confirm the Presidents nomina ton.
All Are Candidates.
Ihere are said to be thirty first ueuten-
ants and thirteen second lieutenants whose
terms or service. dating from the time of
thelr entrance to the Naval Academy. are
tnder six years. Every one of them, is an
applicant for the place Of captain, and the
fact that the President has seen fit to send
III IN the name of civilian has disgruntled
them greatly.
The candidate is one of the social leaders
OF the capital. He is a member of the
metropolitan and Chevy Chase Clubs and
OF me washington Golf Club. There has
never been time since the formation Of
COrDS xxybo h.,
not been McCawley in the corps and
several members of the family have rem
dered distinguished service while attached
TO 1t. The candidate is a personal friend
of Colonel Haywood. whose recommenda-
ticn 1t Is claimed. had much to do in in
iiuenclng the President to take the step
he did.
Mr. McCavley's Views.
In speaking to Star reporter on the
subject of his candidacy today Mr.. McCaw-
ley said:
Il was aware that there was some an
tasohlsm against me, and am rather sur
prised that the matter has been made pub
lie. / suppose it was let out by some one
who had an ak to grind. 1t Is not the first
time that civilian has been appointed, by
any means. Captain Denny came within
an ace of being beaten by one
The statement that men have been wait
ing twenty years or more for promotion to
the captaincy is wholly untrue. The one
who has been waiting longest was made
lieutenant in July. 1883. just fourteen years
time than that.
Il am not thirty-five years old. as has
been stated. although I acknowledge to
being over twenty-five. The section in the
Revised Statutes which has been referred
to. in proof of my ineligibility for the place,
was plainly superseded by the act of Au-
gust ., 1882, in lieu of section 1899.
Quotes the Judge Advocate.
Il have seen an opinion from the judge
advocate general, in which he states that
the former act has been entirely super
seeded by the latter. l have also received
other opinions on the subject
THE statements that Colonel Heywood's
recommendation caused the President to
send in my name is false. The Secretary OF
the Navy. Senators Elkirs, Hale and others
and number of representatives brought
their influence to bear for that point. The
President himself was personally inter-
ested.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roose-
welt has said that the old act requiring
a civilian to be over twenty and under
twenty five years of age has been super
seeded 1 regard the whole thing as piece
of jealousy from beginning to end
Col. Hcywood's Views.
Col. Haywood states that before he had
added his recommendation to that of the
others he had assured himself there were
no obstacles. as far as the statutes went,
to Mr.. McCaw!ey's promotion.
The opinion of the judge advocate gen.
eral which was shown him, was to the
effect that the old act had been superseded
and that SO far as he had been able to
inform himself, was never considered ap-
plicable for the staff of the Marine Corps,
though he was not aware that the cues
ton had ever actually arisen and been
settled.