Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-08-05
ALCER TO HISCRITICS
PRESIDENT NlDEwaR APPOINTMENTS
Recent Assertions ef the Les<ss
rise. HAD No Presentation n. Pact.
neaaess That the Records
ne RIEtdty EkARfnsS-


LAST oficial acts of Secretary Alger. Who
today reiinquizhed his portfolio. ~ss 10
prepare a statement covering several
matters regarding the conduct of the
war which have been the subject % erigi-
cism In the public press. particularly with
reference 70 the appointment OF staa on
GERS in the volunteer army The state
ment follows:
Il am l~i 20 make the following state
rlents cn account % the many criticisms
whicA have been made bT the public
press and especially on Account Of re-
cent article which appeared In the Lon
don Times containing assertions which
have ao foundation in truth
al the commencement Of the war With
Spain and for several year, PRIOR 20
that time che regular army eonsi~ted q
only 5000 men with tbe minimum n1nl-
Der of ofAcers prescribed by law The
situation "a be partially appreciated
when e - rcmeunbered that within oo
days from the declaration % war the
strength ~ the army was Increased ID
2Ta. 600 men. and everything Tor the
equipment of this great force. inciudins
eloshinS. tents. transportation. m~dicaL
supplies camps and camp equipase and
all that pertains 10 equipping an army
for service. had - b. manufactures
tranaported and distributed for ose-
public might bs led % believe that the
volunteer army was oficeFed % men So
iected through political inAueace ~ che
secretary % war By special favor and
without any regard - 6tness for thu dn-
/ ties they we're 20 perform A Is well
/ kaown. the volunteer forcs. with ths ex-
! ception OF three regiments 81 engipe~rss
three Regiments. % cavalry and TIN reSi-
/ m~nts % Immune infnntry. Was made ep
i ~. a4a.raa - ~
/ officers % witch were all appointed sx-
clusively by the governors % the re-
| .pecrive states from which the regiments
/ came. and any oficeP found unnttesi Tor
service and discharged was replaced -
another In the same manner. The presl'
dent had 30 voice or control sn the mat
ter.
The RETURNS of the velonteer srms
.hox that Ina August. lctc. there wer'
oo7 a44 ~ulistad men and s.Is5 oincera
tho-e regiments This. with the reEnie
army recruited up % the war strenEth
made An arxrexate force % about 1to.sAf
I oflccru anA men The volunteer oihcer
! .npotnted by the president numbered a.
y tod na2. Of this number AL ~er
taken from the regular army and -
from civil life. The numbsr az r~gimes
tai officers IA the regular service, OWN
= 70 appointments In the volunteers. speci'
}. hecoms 40 reduced that 90 have take
u a larger number FOR service with the va
;. unteerx would have seriously tmpairo
the efficiency of the regular regimsufs.
= For a little over a thossand appoin
ments made By the president the numb'
OF appIlcations vas over 5000. and eac
. application was accompanied by certt'
\. cats. or his ability aud In most instsne'
!. the military service either la the regui1
.s..t 49,
. frequently in both. These certlnrat'
a. showed that each one was well qua
4 fed for the position he sought aud
X which he was appointed es could be %
Il sible for men In civil isfe IN this country
Dr. ..It has been stated and repeated mai
- times that the secretary Of war ma,
"A these appointments. when the truth
M that very few were made upon bis Feeos
a. mcndatiou. although he caused the enti
or hist, with the recommendations. to
a complied and placed before the preside
e Tor his selection. I would BE- only G
IL ! clad 10 have had the hoaor Cd have ma
these appointments. No better. 40 mo
lovni OF more patriotic set OF men a.
whole ever served their country. a
n their appointments were a credit not oE
re to the appointing power. but 90 the coa
in try they served. There were exception
lin but that could not have been fereseen-
ay every walk OF life mcn are found "
On cannot carry oct successfully the wo
he they have undertaken
er- Criticisms AZ 90 the amounts a
In methods Of expenditures which could
IN ply the wrong OF careless use 0f men
no were also made BY the London Tim
81 Tais charge Is false. SO far a. the e.
Sc duct OF the service was concerned,
person with any knowledxs OF the IA
can ever charge truthfuily and no {
can ever show that q dollar was miss
prOpriated. SsoleD 90 embezxisd out Of I
Ole hundreds OF millions OF dollars that NJ
wi expended The records are an open b.
the and I will be glad To have them rigi
or examined and ask my successor te ol
10 those accounts 20 the eoantry whene
ION properly called for. In order that the
OF tire truth may be known.
FOR ------