The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-09-17
-Four Of the Men Selected BY tbs
President for
Of Army Inquiry.
DECLINE HE HONOR CONFERRED
investigation Said Not to Be Now
Wanted by the Army officers
and Politicians.
SICK OF HEARING OF THE MATTER
President Wishes the Investigation
Concluded Before the Next
Meeting of Com
preRs,

NuSn1nSlOu, sept. 4.-ISlleia oSiho-
field has declined to serve on the COM
mission to investigate the conduct of
the war department.
Destinations have also been received
from former Secretary Of War Robert
Il. Lincoln and Daniel $. Lamont:
General Gordon has already in
formed the president his health will
not permit him to take part in the
proposed investigation.
President c. D. Gilman of Johns
Hopkins university will, it is nov be-
lieved, accept.
There is some hesitation to accept
on the part Of others who have been
invited to serve on the commission,
but have intimated that they would
accept and have asked further time to
consider.
It is not known why General Scho-
field has declined to serve. Ex-Secre-
tary Lamont is reported to have de-
clined for several reasons, the most
important of which is that he consid-
ers it a rather delicate thing to inves-
tigate the administration of his sue
c%essor, and besides this his large bust
ness interests demand I'LL of his time.
It is the presidents wish that the
commission to investigate the waf&de-
partment should finish its labors and
formulate it's report before congress
meets, so that it's findings and recom-
mendations may be embodied in the
annual message.
Since an investigation Of the con-
duct of the war department is nov as
sured the officers whose bureaus will
be investigated have changed their
tones and are not so anxious to have
the inside workings of their officers
thrown open to the public gaze.
Investigation Not So Welcome.
Before the president decided to Or
der the inquiry they were loud in their
demands and freely asserted that they
had nothing to fear, but now an inves-
tigation is not welcomed SO freely.
When a prominent staff officer was
approached yesterday On the subject
he said:
II am sick of hearing Of investiga-
lions and do not see the necessity for
one so far as my department is con-
cerned. / have worked long and faith
fully during the war and have rem
aered service to the best OF, my ability.
I am conscious Of having done my
duty and am perfectly satisfied and
willing to stand by my record.
IF the public and congress are not
satisfied with results and demand an
investigation, I would welcome one.
Nothing but a congressional investiga-
lion will suffice, and if that already or
dered is proceeded with another will
be made by congress, and this course
will bring about two inquiries when
one is not really necessary.
Blame the Politicians.
Politics have played too large a
part i'll this war, and the department
is not resonsible for the incompetency
Of regimentul officers who were foist-
ID upon it by politicians. A-large per-
,entage of the volunteer staff officers
are the sons of senator's and represent
iatives, who are largely responsible
Tor the suffering which has been en-
aured by the soldiers because of in
competency and inexperience.
lrmy who could not possibly make Il
hat they were sons of their fathers.
In some instances they were in hot
water all the time. andtthe department.
lad its hands full in keeping them out
IT trouble.
1T could not be expected suchtmen
would assume charge of soldiers and
ice they observed the rules of the
lrmy when they did not know how to
AXE care of themselves.
when the Investigation has been
completed it will be found hat the
politicians are largely to blame for the
distress and suffering of the soldiers,
ind that the department was helpless,
las it was impossible to resist the
strong pressure brought to bear in
making the appointments"