The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-23
SETH LOW SCORES
THE WAR DEPARTMENT

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 22.-Wash-
ington's birthday was celebrated here
with exercises at the Academy OF MUSIC
under the auspices of the University OF
PENNSYLVANIA. Some 1000 students
marched in procession and enlivened
the day with their college songs and
class slogans. The exercises at the
academy opened with prayer by Blshcp
0zi and the students in chorus sang
the national hymn America" ana the
university hy1nn Hail, Pennsylvania.
Tho orator of the occasion was Seth
1ov II. D.. president Of Columbia
University His topic was Ihe Onlleu
states. 1899" Mr.. Low dWelt at lehs III
11pon the recent war with Spaih' say
ing in part:
The mechanical skill and ready eIn,
c;arcv 40 characteristic of the american
4oId with overwhelming e1eCt al tle liza "a 81 ho
throw of the enemy. WISH ~ GGus0 for
also said that the American genus Az hol
+IlrrSaniZation and for business hao aus
15iaVed itself during the war TO equal ,i au-
vantage In the navy 1t ola. 1HeIe go, Tao
something admirable IN the way ~ mni1it
everv1hing that fell to the lot OF the navy
10 do was done quietly, without com I'1i
and Win absolute success. IN Tue any
ii did not. L must in al canooI n ps ~
1ojftad that the task of the War Depart
mant was much the heavier II mao "
multiply the army tenfold, ana II mao ~
only been in the habit OF dong Slowly oli
small scale. -, 4o,,,,o
But it is precisely under such circum n
stances that genius SHOWS, ana We a. c
obliged to admit that on the side OF the
war Department the genius that nad
made our railroads the most enectlVe IN
the world, the genius that IS enapnIlg oC al
manufacturers to conquer the ma I het1 1,, W
the world, was not forthcoming. Inc
Santiago campaign OF the ooa arihX nd
splendidly and brilliantly SUCCESSFUL, anu
IL the war had lasted longer l dare say
we should have had a better criterion
+han we have now by which to judge how
much of the dreadful suffering in camp
and field is inseparable from war at the
very best. But the contrast between the
work of the Navy Department and the
war Department is toe great to be wholly
explained away. 1t is as clear as the
MONDAY sun that the organization or
the War Department and the army is ap-
xolutely unfriendly TO efficiency. Inc
Presidents commission to investigate has
pointed cut some of the dlihcultles ana
has suggested some of the remedies. II
remains for public opinion to see that
the remedies or others equally enectlVe
are promptly enacted into law. 1 am glad
that the President has appointed court
of inquiry to go to the bottom of the
grievous charges that have been made
against the cOmm1SSary department, Tor
fl is hideously in contrast with the self
sacrificing heroism of our troops that
such charges can be mooted, much less
made by the commanding general OF the
army. Now that the inquiry has been
ordered the people may well await the
finding with patience and with an open
mind, as people at once too great TO dc
injustice even to single one not known
10 be at fault and too earnest to permit
any who may be proven guilty either OF
wTongdoing or Of false charges to escape
the blazing fury of that wrath.
Mr.. Low upheld the course of the ad-
ministration in the Philippines.