The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-08-24
MILITARY NEPOTISM.
THE SONS or ARMY OFFICERS PRE-
FERRED FOR PROMOTION.

No Vacancy In the Army For This Years
Graduates OF the Military Academy.
The Promotion Of Enlisted Men Said to
Be the Cause of This.
For the first time in the history Of
the United States Military academy
this years graduating class-an unusu
ally large one-had to be assigned to
the army as additional" second lieu
tenants for the reason that not single |
vacancy existed in that grade at the
time of assignment. This condition is
the result of very questionable admins.
tration on the part of the war depart
ment. Under the law graduates of the |
Military academy are entitled to all va
cancies occurring during the year pre- |
ceding their graduation. When the va
cancies exceed the number of the gradu-
ating class, meritorious enlisted men
who pass the required examinations
are entitled to promotion to the grade
of second lieutenant, and, following
this class, the president may appoint
Young men from civil life to the re-
naming vacancies. The practice has
been to promote limited number of
enlisted men every year after the as
signment of the graduates and the alb
sorption Of those who were assigned as
additional This was done for the
commendable purpose of drawing to the
IF nn char
acter, possessed of military spirit and
who could reach commission only
through service in the ranks. During
| the past two years, however, an unusu-
ally large number Of enlisted men were
given commissions, no less than 10 hav-
| ing been commissioned since Feb. and
| most of them since Secretary Alger as
| sumed direction of the war department
| The result of this questionable policy is
that the entire 81 members of the class
of 1897 of the Military academy had to
be assigned as additional.
There is q special feature connected
with tho recent appointment of so many
enlisted men to the grade of second lieu
tenant which deserves notice, and which
should receive the attention OF congress-
The law makes young men who have
served for two years in the ranks eligi-
BILE to promotion to the grade OF second
lieutenant. This period is too short, be-
ing only one-half that required OF the
young man who is appointed to the mil
itary academy. In selecting from the
ranks for promotion it was the inten-
ton of the law that selections should be
made from those who exhibit the high
est soldierly qualities and who have had
the test of two years actual experience
in all the duties and requirements OF
the ranks. In other words, the men Sc
lected as candidates for promotion are
supposed to be representative enlisted
men and typical soldiers. Instead o.
this rule prevailing the selections arr
. made in many instances through favor
! | itism and nepotism of the most fagran
, character. There is scarcely white
regiment in the army that has not to
day one or more sons or brothers o
officers of the army who have enlisted
for a commission and with the absolute
/, | certainty of obtaining it if the presen
.. abuse is continued in connection Wit
the selection of enlisted men for promo
3 ton. These young men, instead or benz
r assigned to real military duty, are, II
the first place, sent to companies an
3 regiments chosen by their army rela
tives and committed to the special car
of friendly company officers, and, III tn
second place, upon reporting for dut
they are detailed to perform clerica
. work, made teachers of post schools
}. given duty Of such character that. WI
: furnish them abundant opportunity IL
r study without being subjected to th
d yicissitudes of ordinary military serN
IS ice. Men are now serving III this wa
q in companies of which their brother
Ie are commissioned officers and sons
. colonies are serving in the ranks at I'll
O regimental headquarters.
d The extent to which this abuse is b
he ing carried will be inferred from II
fact that of the 10 enlisted men promo
g ed to the grade of second lieutenal
Sc since Feb. /, nine Of them, or near
i one-half Of the entire number, are Sol
and brothers of officers in the army.
., is true these young men passed the I
ouired examination, but the fact mu
n not be overlooked that they were selet
H. ed for examination mainly because
Of their relation to officers of the arm
ry after having been extended special pr
a. ileges for preparation, aud that tn
!, were examined by boards of officers nj
ne urally prejudiced in their favor IL
cd because of this fragrant favoritism a
ed shameful nepotism imposed upon Sc
de rotary of war new to the business a
unacquainted with the methods resort
ed to by "Coburgers" to influence the
ur ton of the department that the emit
no class of ca men that emerged from W.
- Point last month had to be assigned
-, additional second lieutenants, at
- EXPENSE to the treasury for salary ale
of 500. 600 per annum. at least one-thl
ID of which is fairly chargeable to
Ter abuse complained of.
Ia On Jan. there were 81 "addltiona
St second lieutenants borne ON the arr
he register waiting promotion to the I
grade. and several of these are 81
-, waiting, yet the secretary OF war.