The times., 1898-11-14
The Case of General Miles.

Although Senator Platt is said not to
be unfavorable to the election of Mr..
Depew to the United States Senate. it
is evident that Mr.. Choate considers
himself in the race. He has never been
a partisan of the kind Senator Platt
prefers, but he is working for record
in that direction now. Once before he
had hopes of a career at Washington.
but the party workers wanted to know
who Choate might be-where he had
taken off his coat for the success of the
party, and other questions that embar-
rassed his supporters. none of whom
was himself campaigner. This year,
with the Senatorship in view, he
took to the platform, if not the stump,
and flung his hardest words at Croker
He is still keeping up his political ac-
tivity. though not with the best OF taste
1t is noted that at the banquet in honor
of General Miles he was more intent on
laudng President Mckinley than the
distinguished guest. He made occa-
sions to give most of the credit that be-
longs to the commanding general to the
President. whose favor might help
good deal toward his ambition.
The disinterested reader must agree
with the New York Evening Post
which is a very unusual thing for any
body to do-that Mr.. Choate displayed
very bad taste; but it is not true that
it was the President who prevented the
following ofGeneral Miles's advice; who
displaced General Miles from his prop
er place at the head of the army in the
field; who sent to Cuba, where the ac-
tive operations were to take place, "a
military duffer whom Miles had finally
to rescue from disaster" 1t is true that
the President could have interfered to
save the army from the bungling
of a civilian whose chief idea was to
benefit himself and politicians, but he
is not an aggressive man. He trusted
to the patriotism of his Secretary of
War and did not like to assume any
direct responsibility for the administra-
ton of the war. He was misled by AL
ger, who represented everything as
going well. until it was too late to inter-
fere with any profit. Yet he was in
clined to side with General Miles when
he was forced to decide between the
two. 1t was positively against the ad-
vice and plans of Alger that he directed
General Miles, at the request of that
officer. to go to Cuba at a critical time
and do what he thought best. even TO
the point of relieving Shafter formally
as he had relieved himself practically
and allowed the subordinate officers to
fight according to their own judgment.
While we may deplore the fact that
the President did not realize how neces-
sary it was for him to intervene in or
der that General Miles might have alb
solute direction of all the movements.
so that the army could be saved from
the ruin that followed Alger's inetficien-
cy. it is to be remembered that but for
his consent 10 Miless visit to Cuba,
against the pleadings of Alger. we
should have been Inundated by the re-
treat of our army-unless the division
and brigade commanders h1d rebelled
and refused to retreat on Skaters or
der. AS to the Presidents failure to re-
move Secretary Alger, it must be con-
sidered that Mr.. Mckinley has been an
active politician all his mature life, and
that he has succeeded because he did
not make enemies. Secretary Alger,
who is rich man. has contributed gen.
erously to the Grand Army causes, and
has won the ardent good will of the vet
Grams, and especially the pensioners.
Since a Republican Congress-or a
Democratic Congress, for the matter of
that-will vote enormous appropria-
tions rather than incur the animosity
of the veterans. can we blame the Pres
ident for being unwilling to invite their
opposition by turning out of the Cabi-
net their particular friend? 1t seemed
to the President that when the revela-
tions of incompetency We're made, there
would be little opportunity for further
mischief, as the war was virtually end
ed. AT any rate. he has shown no ILL
will toward General Miles.