The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-05-13
49, ii - - orFIcE.


According to newspaper reports 1t
would appear that there is serious
friction between Secretary Of War
Alger and Gen. Miles, and other high /
up officers in the regular army. Alger
is too small a man, evidently, for the I
place and his resignation from the
cabinet is rumOred-
Gen. Alger was a colonel Of Michi |
gan cavalry regiment in the time Of
the late war and was under Gen
Merritt who was major general Of vol
unteers Alger left the front in the
Shenandoah valley, where there was
prospective hard fighting to be done,
on sick leave, went to q hospital and
toward the close Of his leave went to
Washington where he secured a detail
in the war department offices, not in
forming his superior officer OF gaining
his consent.
This dodge vas frequently worked
in the war time. Men that had pull
would get detailed on detached" ser
vice while holding their commission
over troops in the field, and their subOr-
dinstes did the campaigning and fight
ing while they held the rank and drew
the pay, out Of harms way and enjoy
ing a soft snap. 1t was not uncOm-
mon for a lieutenant to have charge Of
four companies and a captain to be in
command of a regiment. When the
VAT was over Johnny came marching
home'' at the head Of his command
This practice had a demOralizing
tendency and hindered the advance
ment of men who took the brunt Of
battle and hard campaign. Officers in
the field endeavored to prevent it, and
in the Alger case Gen. Merritt reported
him absent without leave and desert
ing his post in the presence Of the
enemy. Myron Reed Of Denver in a
recent utterance said that three major
generals recommended Ayers dismis-
sal from the ser7ice-Presumably for
cowardise-or, for conduct as above
stated.
AIger is reported to be very wealthy,
and was commander in chief of the G.
A. R., and has been a prospective can
didate for nomination to the presi-
dency. Now he is SECRETARY Of war, and
is insisting on a speedy occupation Of
Cuba with a small force which Gen.
Miles cosiders entirely inadequate and
advises sending a large force, and the
postpOning of the move to such time as
our navy demonstrates its ability to
take care of the Spanish feet. The
Of opinion has increased to
absolute warmth.
Gen. Merritt, who has a long and
honorable record of war service, has
rendered his services for
field operations, but is as yet unassign-
ed while ex-officers of the volunteers,
and cOnfederates, are given major gen.
erals cOmmi ssIOns and subOrdinates
in the regular service are jumped over
his head. Standing next to Gen.
Miles in regular army rank it was sup
posed tina Gen. Merritt would be given
q very prominent and responsible
position.
The presumption is that AIger is
paying off an aid grudge, as far as it is
in his power. If this is the case he
should be asked to resign. Many very
staUnch republicans believe him TO be
too small a man for the place, especi-
ally in time Of war. 1t will be a relief
to hear Of his resignation. The system
Of political, civilian appointees to the /
war and navy portfolio is bad enough
at best, but when a small bore poIiti- /
clan gets in, it's the old story-"a bull
in a china shop"
However, these reports may be in
correct and hence unfair to the secre- 1
tary Of war. At any rate that great |
of thu government should
be administered with absolute i'm
partiality. There should be no poll !
ties in it and no personal jeaIousies or
should be allowed. In the |
late war thousands of soldiers lives
we're sacrificed at the last Bull Run |
battle, and the Potomac army suffered |
2 disastrous rOut all because of the |
preference Of some army officers for
Gen. Mcclellan as commander and |
their resentment at his removal. For
his part in it Gen Fitz John Porter |
vas cashiered the service. Let US have |
nothing of this in the DreseDt conflict |