Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-09-24
SATURDAY. SEPT. "a, 1898
POLITTCAL APPOINTMENTS

Just how susceptible to personal and
political pull a Republican admins
tration Is, is we'll demonstrated by the
roster OF army appointments made dur
ing the war just closed.
The sons OF senator's and Cabinet Of
ficers and the male relatives of con-
gressmen and millionaires when war
was declared with Spain, invested
Washington, filled the hotels, the lob
bles OF the White House and the Capt.
tol, and raised their clamor for places.
Most of these men were out OF job,
with little experience in business life,
some OF them having made disastrous
failures in their attempts.
They knew little OF what was needed
or required of them in the positions
they sought. Competent. possibly, to
order a fine dinner at some swell no
tel, they had little idea Of how much
food one thousand men would require
for a week when they were appointed.
Yet these young snobs were appointed
TO places in the commissary and sub
sistence departments OF the United
States Army. The quartermaster's de-
partment of the army was filled up
with young men accustomed to travel
In special trains on private passes, who
had no knowledge OF how to move or
transfer one thousand soldiers, or how
much clothing, blankets, and tentage a
regiment OF soldiers needed. And other
young men, lately from medical
schools, some OF them veterinary doc
tors, and some ofNhem without medical
diplomas, carried of appointments as
assistant surgeons in the army. They
knew nothing about the medical sup
plies needed for one thousand soldiers.
Common decency demands that the
truth shall be told. Whitewash viii
not stick and cannot save the Algerines
who robbed our boys of their health
and their lives.
Selected because Of their influence
and their political pull, none Of these
sons OF political sires had been trained
or educated in the duties Of the offices
to which they were appointed and their
duties have not been properly per-
formed. The result has been the death
of many OF our soldiers, who have been
neglected and allowed to suffer. The
young men who were the flower OF the
country went forth to fight the battles
for the cause OF humandtyand found an
enemy more dangerous, more disastrous
to them than Spanish bullets. They
have suffered because OF political IA
voritlsm. The crime OF starving and
decimating by disease our soldier boys
belongs to the political organization oil
the War Department, who filled tbs
commissary and Quartermaster's de-
partments with these incompetent
for political purposes. Every individual
who could be depended on to assist IN
any way the political designs OF Han
naism was favored in the manner SCI
forth above Hundreds OF able ana eN
periencsd soldiers who had beer
through the war OF the rebellion mad
application for these appointments a
the commencement OF this war, mel
who had accurate knowledge and rem
dered able service in the medical, com
missary and quartermaster's depart
ments OF the army and navy-thes
were rejected because the political di
rectors OF theWarDepartment could Sc
no political advantage to themselves
Thus it can be readily seen that wa
commenced dn the interest OF humanit
was made to serve the purposes Of IN
patriotic politicians.