The San Francisco call., 1898-04-30

ington correspondent of the Herald tel egraphS: No part of the war prepar- ations has given President Mckinley more trouble than the appointment of officers to perfect the organization of the 125000 men that have been called into service. Try as he will to pre- vent politics entering the question, he is besieged from all directions by mem bers of his party who are not only ask ing, but demanding appointments. He has the greatest amount of patronage which has fallen to any President since the war.
 In connection with the volunteer army alone he will have the appoint ment of twelve major generals and thirty-four brigadier- generals, with their staffs, which aggregate twenty one lieutenant -cOlonels, 100 majors, 147 captains and sixty-eight first ieuten- ants, making a grand total of 3S4 of ficers. Of these six major generals and fifteen brigadier- generals will be appointed probably on Monday. The President will appoint all of these SS4 officers, but the recommendations of the general officers will in most cases prevail when it comes to the selection of members of their staffs.
 General Grenville M. Dodge to-day declined the position of major general of volunteers which President McKin- ley had offered. General Dodge has been in this city since Tuesday and has had many conferences with representa- tives of the army and War Depart ment, who have tried without success | to prevail upon him to accept the com mand of the first volunteer corps. Gen. era1 Dodge was greatly compllmented | at the honor offered him, but said he was too old to take the field again. He will abide by his decision unless the war becomes more severe or lasting than is now expected.
 Other candidates for the high mili- tary positions at the disposal of the President are presented by influential men each day. Generals Wheeler and Lee are about equally we'll indorsed for the command of the army corps to be formed from the Southern quotas. The selection may, however, be a little influenced by the political status of the two candidates The Southern Demo- crats seem to prefer General Wheeler on the ground of his free silver affilia- tiOnS.
 The name of General James Wilson is now the only one in the list of promi- nent Northern generals who remains of the general officers which the Presi-
 
 General Wheeler and General Wilson were opposed to each other through the rebellion as leaders of the Northern and Southern cavalry forces in the Gulf States, and it would be an inter esting incident if after thirty years they should command adjacent corps in the army of the Union.
 General Wilson's selection is consid- cred here as practically certain. He Is one of the youngest of the prominent war generals now living, having been graduated at West Point in the class of 1860. General Wilson had every rank in the army, from second lieutenant to major general of volunteers, and cul- minated his career as a flashing cav airy leader by the capture at the close of the war of the Confederate Presi- dent, Jefferson Davis.
 Brigadier- General William R. Shaf- ter, who will command the first eXpedi- tion which is sent to Cuba, and which will be entirely composed of regulars, will upon his return receive the rank and command of major general of vol unteers. General Shafter has a dis tinguished war record, and served on the frontier for twenty-five years as commander of his regiment.
 Many applications have been made to the War Department by Governors of States for permission to appoint number of junior line officers of the regular army to HlSneT commands III the volunteers. There also have been received from Governors a number of inducements for officers of the grades of colonel and lieutenant colonel in the regular establishment for the rank of general officers of the provisional forces. Colonel Lawton will be selected by the President to fill the highest po- sition with the Indiana quota, and Ma jor Darlington will be appointed briga- dier- general and accredited to South Carolina. The most prominent and cap able officers of the present National Guard will be called upon to fill some of the higher commands.
 The officers most generally recom- mended for general officers among the militia are Generals Snowden and Go- bin of Pennsylvania, who have re- ceived the almost unanimous indorse- ment of their State, and General Roe and Coloner Francis V. Greene of New York the latter as a West Point gradu- ate and the former regular, being very prominently favored at the War De- partment.
 Colonel Otis of California will prob ably command the troops left on the Pacific Coast, with the rank of brig adler general of volunteers. Colonel Garretson of Cleveland and General J. Warren Keller are slated for high posi- tions with Ohio's representation. The latter is warm personal friend of the President, has distinguished war rec ord, and is mentioned among the possi- bilitieS for command of division. Webb Hayes, a son of former President Hayes, was to-day appointed major of Ohio cavalry. The -colonelcy of the regiment has been given to Cap tain Day of the regular army.