The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-25

1rlllCS OF tne war department, OF
whom there are many these days, and
who are by no means limited to one
political party, do not hold that among
the responsible heads of departments
there has been want of patriotism or
inclination to escape work. Certainly
with reference to Secretary Alger no
one can honestly charge lack of de-
votion to the national cause, for an
abundance of that devotion was shown
by him when, in the early stages of
preparation for the war he met lack
Of appropriated funds in an emergency
by drawing his personal check for one
million dollars and advancing this sum
to the government until congress had
made available other funds. In all
fairness his critics must admit that he
did the best he could, and we dare say
all his subordinates did likewise.
The trouble, as the general public
views it, was not wilful neglect, but
inadequacy of executive ability. The
task was too much for the war de-
partment The department methods
were not fitted to so sudden an emer-
gency. There was too much red tape,
too much pulling and hauling, too
large an emphasis on forms and cere-
monies and too little of the spirit of
aggressive push and get there. The
men in the department who were ex-
perienced and capable military men,
whose profession it was to take hold
on such an occasion regardless of poll
tics or red tape were not given
chance. The public is morally con-
vinced. for example, that if General
Miles had had absolute and uncondi-
tional authority over all the matters
properly pertaining to his office as the
commanding general, with power to
enforce his views to the limit. things
would have gone more smoothly and
results would have been reached with
much smaller friction and waste. This
is upon the assumption, which we be-
lieve is thoroughly justifiable, that
Miles knew his business as a trained
soldier better than politicians re-
cruited from civil life could be eX-
pected to know it for him. All past
wars have shown the necessity of such
centering of authority in one skilled
general. Cur civil war showed it con-
clusively, two years of fighting being
almost wasted because the armies had
no adequate head.
At every point where the war de-
partment took hold it made mary blum
ders which "a more efficient organiza- =
ton, based not on politics or pull but
on soldierly merit and expert profess
sional knowledge, would have obviated.
The very fact that generals deemed
worthy to command thousands of men
were not permitted to choose the staff
officers under them on whom they
had necessarily to rely for the sue
cessful execution of their plans, but
had TO take The men designated by po-
litical or bureau influence Al Washing
ton, a large proportion of whom knew
nothing of their duties and had to be
educated at the soldiers expense, ex-
hibits the paralyzing inadequacy and
unfairness of the present military sys-
tenn. This sort of thing permeated
the entire war department from the
secretary of war down. In peace times
it may have made little difference. But
in war times 1t made all the difference
imaginable. That we won against
Spain was not due to the ability shown
in the management of the war de-
partment, difficult as its work may
have been; it was rather in spite of the
departments inefiiciency. We won be-
cause even with unfit clothing, poor
guns and insufficient food our soldiers,
once on the battle line. are the best
lighters in the world. Let not their
valor and hardihood under adverse
conditions blind us to the need of a
thorough overhauling of our cumbrous
and mismanased war department.
such revision is imperative.
AS the New York Sun we'll says:
"since it is. now, apparent that this
country must maintain a larger mill
'tary establishments In the future, It is