The times., 1899-04-23
SUNDAY. APRIL %. 1899.
Political Army Officers.

feiftfcal Army Oncers-
Col. Alexander s. Bacon, in a maga-
zine article. discusses the political colonel
question without any timidity or euphe-
mism He asks: why does the Govern
ment spend money in the education of each
of its military officers, and when he offers
his services in time of war. ignore him.
That is the question which thoughtful
people have been asking ever since the
organization of the volunteer army a year
ago. When the army scandals began to
attract attention, the thoughtless said that
there was just as much favoritism N the
Army as in politics and that that was the
reason why the Government was cheated in
its army contracts, as municipalities are
cheated by corrupt aldermen. They said
that army officers were as bad as any
other politicians and that West Point
training could not prevent the rule of
rings and syndicates. But the more 'cb-
serving noticed that the Secretary of War,
who had the appointing power; the Com
missary General, who used embalmed beef
language TO the General OF the Army: the
ponderous and hesitating blunderer who
nearly caused retreat at Santiago-none
of these was a West Point graduate. or
even a man Of distinguished service in the
Regular Army. Wheeler Lawton chaf1ee,
Kent. were men of different sort; and
Roosevelt. while not graduate of West
Point brought to his work a genuine love
for soldering and considerable kno Wedge
of its technique and of the duties of or
ganiza;ion. None of these men. who
I.v
political appointee. All the officers of the
Navy who won distinction were. of course,
graduates of Annapolis. Why should
West Point be so far behind its sister in
stitution in devotion to duty. sense of
honor, and knowledge of the art of war?
The truth is that political pull and po-
liticsl appointees are the cause of the
whole unsavory collection of army scan
dals with which the country has been bur
dened during the last seven or e'ght
months. and If our operations in Cuba had
failed, politicians would have been re-
sponsible for the failure. In only one case
has this influence been allowed to inter-
feIe with the work of the Navy, and in that
case the results might easily have been
national disgrace. Owing to the intsrfer-
ence of a gracious Providence the machi-
nations OF the political ring which worked
SO hard to give Sampson glory which did
not belong to him were frustrated. II
happened that he was absent Just at the
time when it was important that he should
be present, and all efforts to prove that
several hundred witnesses are mistaken
and that be was Oh the spot, have thus far
been unavailing. AS the rest of the off,
GERS Of the North Atlantic Squadron were
not political appointees, they knew lust
what TO do. and did IT, and all was joy and
victory. No political ring has attempted
to interfere with Dewey. and that, again,
is due partly to the course Of events. The
opportunity for a magnificent stroke of
genius was presented to Dewey. he took
advantage OF ii, and from that time on it
would have been most foolhardy for any
politician TO try to hinder him In any way.
There is nothing on earth whish can spoil
his glory now. But political ring which
Is allied with syndicate and a trust or
two can, in these days, make it difficult
even for a genuine military genius to aid
10 his country's glory. if 1t happens TO
have some pet whom it wishes to place in
control OF army contracts, supplies. and
appointments.
The country is now qalte thoroughly
awake to the evils of political appoint
ments- OF course, there must always be
some favoritism and rivalry and injustice
where human beings are gathered together
al all; but anyone can see that among
men who are graduates OF the same school
or college. who have the same traditions.
who have some regard-often a very high
regard-for the honor OF their alma mater
and who have been taught to consider
themselves gentlemen, with all that the
oid-iashioned meaning OF that word i'm
plies. there is less danger OF corruption
ana bribery than among those who have no
OBJECT in life except the making OF money
ana no standard except intelligence enough
10 Keep out of States prison-not always
even that If the Army is allowed to co
ils work unhampered by politics. there is
no reason why II should not do tpapn,f,-
cent work; but il political infiuence-the
petty schemes of men who see in tbeir
conntry's Affairs only another chance for
moneymaking-is allowed to control tbts
profession, the results will be heart-sick-
ening.