The evening times., 1899-07-05
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1899.
Mckinley as n Secretary


When asked the other day by friend
why he did not leave the details OF the
Philippine war to his subordinates, Mr.
Mckinley is reported to have replied by
quoting that paragraph from the Constitu-
tion which makes the President Comman-
der-in- Chief of the Army and Navy, "and
of the militia of the several States when
called into the actual service of the Unit
ed States.''
This reply is tantamount to declaration
by the President of his belief of the in
competency or untrustworthiness of those
subordinates specially charged with the
management of the army. 1t is gratifying
to learn that Mr.. Mckinley has at last
come to a realization of his surroundings
in this particular. 1t would be still more
gratifying if he would exercise his con-
stiIutiOnal privilege in another way by re-
lieving himself of the dead weight of in
competency in the War Department and
calling TO his assistance an order of talent
that could be trusted with the work in
hand.
Circumstances Justify the President in
his apparent change of attitude toward Al
ger. which is making of the Secretary a
mere figurehead in the War Department;
but the circumstances do not warrant the
President in taking upon himself all of
the important work of the Department
which involves personal direction of the
army staff in the raising and equipment OF
The volunteer re-enforcements to be sent
TO General Otis, the management of the
transport service, the provisioning of the
troops now on the island, making con-
tracts for supplies, ammunition, and ord
nance and even the work of recruitment TO
keep the regiments in the field up to the
required strength. OF course, as is we'll
understood. the President is being assisted
in the minor details of this work by the
Adjutant General; but that official, if con-
fined to his proper functions, would be
subject only to commands from his imme-
diate superior, the Commanding General
of the Army.
Mr.. Mckinley. however, either in igno-
rance or Willful disregard of the fixed rules
of our military establishment, is putting a
member Of the staff of the Commanding
General ahead of that ornamental func-
AUluIdnl
General Corbin the work which really be-
longs 10 Major General Miles Is the
President doing this because he considers
Miles incompetent, too? We do not recall
that the Major General commanding
has been allowed an opportunity during
the period OF our military activity to dis
play his capacity or lack of it The whole
world hzr he CFU
has abundantiy, we may say reduntantly
demonstrated his incompetency, and We
have no complaint TO make against the
President for taking out OF Alger's hands
the management of the army and the di-
rection of operations in the Philippines.
But there is neither good business sense
nor wise craftsmanship in the President
assuming the burdensome labor involved in
the relief of Alger.
The civil affairs OF the Government are
too multifarious and perplexing to permit
the Chief Magistrate TO devote his time and
attention to the details of military organi-
cation and management. The wise course
for him to pursue in such an emergency
would be to diyest Alger of the title as
well as of the function Of official respon-
sibility and put in his place someone more
capable of discharging its duties. Every
one Of Mr.. McKinley's real friends and
well-wishers would applaud this act.
In view OF all the facts developed and OF
the convincing evidence of the Presidents
tardy realization of Alger's incompetency
and untrustworthiness, we cannot under
stand why Mr.. Mckinley does not politely
invite him to leave the Cabinet and go
back to Michigan to look after his beef
and potato trust.