The Meeker herald., 1898-06-25
ARE HARD TO SUIT.
PRESIDENTS ADVISORS D,sA.
GREE.
n Hssaa.dina-OpSssisSsa - 0seer.I
Co1plagsf-No Expsditiaa - DRasa-

In q multitude Of cOunseloFs there
may be wisdom. but there u usually
q good deal OF confusion also, and
President Mckinley has learned by ex-
perience. He is man Of abundant
caution, and while he may be too de-
liberate to suit many people be takes
the advice Of Davy Crockett and is
sure he is right before he goes ahead.
For that reason he summoned General
Miles from Tampa, much against the
latter's wishes. although the general
should consider 1t compliment to be
called 800 miles back to talk with his
cOmmander-in-chief. As stated in
these dispatches last night, nothing has
been definitely determined about the
expedition to Porto Rico. The secre-
tary OF war and his subordinates had
formed a pretty plan, with all details.
but the President declined to approve
1t until he had consulted General Miles.
The latter arrived this morning In his
private car. with its porcelain bath
tub and other luxurious appurtenances
that have been the cause OF criucism
and comment, but instead OF settling
the open question In speedy manner
he threw the whole game In confusion
and upset the calculations of the rest
OF the department by the objections he
raised to their plans.
There has been good deal Of fric-
tion between General Miles and the
secretary of war from the beginning,
AS ! have frequently stated in these
dispatches. and there was never more
than at present. The Alger plan in
brief is to moboiize 10000 or 35,OO
troops Mt Fernandina, Florida, and ship
hal "a nm
der command Of Major General Cop
pinger.
In the first place. there has been con
siderable objection to COppinger. He is
foreigner: he is not graduate Of
West Point; he was not citizen of the
United States until he became a briga-
der general. and even then took out
naturalization papers only for the pur-
pose of joining the Loyal Legion; he
is Catholic. and 1t is argued he
should not be sent In command of
troops to a Catholic country like Porto
Rico. But General Coppinger has
strong friends, who contend that the
objections raised contain the very best
reasons why he should be selected. He
has the strong backing of General
Miles and Adjutant General Corbin,
and, although when he was appointed
a brigadier general four or five years
ago, Re did not stand very high profes-
sionally, 1t is claimed at the War De
partment no man in the list Of depart
ment commanders has made q better
record than he. II Is almost certain
that the President will accept the rec
concentrations of Miles and Corbin and
let Coppinger lead the Porto Rican ex-
petition.
General Miles, however, will not al
low himself to be drawn into the rail
road fight, and has made reeommen-
dation which, although 1t uneets the
plans OF the War Department, seems
to b. practical and sensible. He ret~
Ommends that the troops and supplies
now at Tampa be shipped from that
place, where temporary facilities have
been provided and the experience OF
the Cuban expedition has taught many
valuable lessons. He sees no reason
why these facilities should be alnn-
doned and the troops and supplies
transferred to another point simply for
the purpose of loading them on trans
ports. He suggests that the troops and
supplies at Jacksonville be started
from Fernandina, those at Chickamau-
ga from Brunswick and those at
Washington from Newport News or
Baltimore or equally convenient ports.
General Miles argues that 1t is use
less expense to take troops out 0 one
camp and establish them in another
unless they are to remain permanent
ly at the second place. Nothing cen be
gained. for example, In taking troops
from Chickamauga to Fernandina and
allowing them to remain there until
they are ready to go to sea. He urges
that they be retained at Chicknmnuga
until the transports are ready II re-
ceive them, so that they can march
aboard from the cars as soon as they
arrive. Nor does he see any advantage
in sending the entire expedition from a
single place. 1t will save long and
expensive journey to ship the troops
now at Washington from Newport
News or Baltimore instead OF taking
them to Fernandina or Tampa, and at
either Of the former places better IA
cilities exist for handling men, live
stock and supplies.
General Miles has been spending the
afternoon trying to convince Secretary
Alger Of the advantages of his plan.
The President and Cabinet regard 1t
very favorably and 1t will probably be
adopted.
There is no intention Of sending a
feet across the sea. The matter has
not even been seriously considered.
Several persons have suggested at diff
ferent times that 1t would be good
idea to lombard CadiE or some other
Of the Spanish ports. The capture of
the Canary islands has also been I'd
vocated In various quarters, but the
president thinks our army and navy
have plenty to do nearer home at pres
ent, and that they will be kept busy
on this side of the water until the
Spanish flag is removed from Ameri-
can soil and the United States 10 in
possession Of all the spanish-Ameri-
can colonies.
shastsr.s Arry.