The evening times., 1898-12-13
The Truth of the Matter.

on" Of the questions submitted To Gen
eral Miles 10y member Of the Hon e Com
mittee on Military Affairs is encouraging
10 the friends OF justice He WAS asked
whether iho mistakes Of the war
would not have been avoided If Sec
rotary Alger had left the man
agcment of the army To army
officers and devoted himself to his minis
ierial duties General Miles did not hest
tate 10 say that il was impossible for amy
civilian 10 jump into the place of the com
slaander OF the army. The fact is, indeed,
obvious and the answer Is not reve alton.
But that a member of the committee
should ask il is proof that the legislators
whose particular business ii is to look az
ter the interests of the army and from
whom We expect a report In favor Of a
Congressional investigation of the conduct
of the recent war have seized upon the
vital fact IN regard TO the scandals. The
question implied that the truth of the
charges against Secretary Alger is beyond
question The members OF this committee
naturally possess themselves Of any facts
ia relation Ia the military depar: ment that
riif lilts'it PUBLIC it''N i'Nf' lfit Tue tNl-
dence that has been collected by the \ ger
Relief Commission and they know the
value of every expression OF such a wit
ness as General Brcckinridse, They un-
derstand even better than most persons
how prolific of evil is the ambition of a
civilian Secretary Of War when II leads
To the virtual suspension of the expert
nd ba, rp,
concerned about the faults of subordi-
mates, which are overshadowed by the
superlatiyc blunders Of the civilians of the
War Office
They know the primary purpose in pre-
venting General Miles from directing the
movements Of the army. 1t was entirely
political. Ii Was resolved that no con-
spicUous hero should emerge from the
smoke OF battle. That Colonel Roosevelt
should he elected governor Of New York
for his part la a single charge shows h w
the people would regard a general who
should carry through a successful war
with small losses. He would al once be-
come d dangerous rival OF the President
Tor popular favor. Therefore the deter
minatiun TO have no particular hero; and
therefore the slight mention Of Dewey,
who became "A hero before nybody could
stop him. That General Niles should no;
achieve glory he was not allowed 10 haze
a distinct control of the army in the field.
II was "a forcsone conclusion that Shafter
would wiz no great laurels, though it was
hoped h. would display some of the quail
ties Of general. The members of the
House committee prove by their question
that they charge the mistakes of the war
mistakes that reach the magnitude OF a
cIime-to this interference of the civilian
Secretary Alger with the work of army
officers. ana especially Generals Miles ami
Breckenridge.
1t would be to suspect them of higher
regard for the interests of Republican
politicians than for the welfare Of the
army to doubt that they will advance an
investigation into the matters they have
shown that they understand. BY reason
of his obviously improper course, Sscreta-
~ Alger endangered the success Of the
Santiago campaign-which was saved
from disaster only by the timely interven-
tion OF General Miles-and condemned the
expedition 10 unnecessary privati"ns. suf-
feringS Of all kinds, disease ana death
Every item in the long list Of ayoidab!e
Affections can be traced directly to The
refusal OF Secretary Alger. a civilian pol
itcian of light caliber. to allow The com
msnding general of the army 10 exercise
his functions. Having virtually affirmed
this how can the members of the COM
mitjee fail To set in motion the machin-
cry of justice not 10 avenge the needless
deaths and the exquisite pains of our he
rocs. but Ia prevent a repetition of the
blunder? At this very hour there are sol
diors on their way To cuba who are
crowded into foul cattle ship that Was
condemned by different inspectors. and
FOR no conceivable reason Just as long
as he goes unrcbukcd and unpunished
Secretary Algcr will continue to maltreat
the American soldier and To make the
hlundcrS that have been 50 costly How
confirmed he IS in his fallacy that the
army exists for the benefit OF the poII.i-
clans We may guess from his approval nf
the bill of Chairman Hun. which opens
he way 10 the appointment of the civil
ian relatives and friends of politicians to
army positions. Every consideration Of
justice ana Of the present and future wei
fare of The army demands an early and
thorough investigation OF the Secretary
al Mars administration.
The proclamation which it is proposed