Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-10
4 HoUsE c,LEAN1NG NEEDED.

L. j. SHEAIeER.
A HOUSE CLEANING NEEDED.
One of the first problems that will
claim the attention of the new Secre-
tary Of War when he has acquainted
himself with the "lie of the land in and
about his department promises &c be
general house cleaning of the depart
ment to free it from the curse of
horde of Algerian sinecures whose jeal-
ousies and petty chickering's have so far
succeeded in throttling most of the pub
lie business that should have been dis
patched from the offices of this Depart
ment. The fight between Gen. Miles
and the former secretary, Alger, can be
said to be the one great cause of failure
that has characterized the admlnistra-
ton of the latter. Had he been man
enough to overlook his personal dislikes
and conduct his office in a broad public
spirited manner, Alger might have sue
ceeded in getting something done by his
bureau chiefs, but such narrow minded,
Z SIQdlI, pStly IledUleSS d. lie ScCiiS ~
have resorted to would disrupt any or
ganization.
Here is a sample of what has been
S going on in the war department when
the country was demanding of it almost
super-human efforts in the dispatch of
most extraordinary business. The ac-
count is taken from the Washington
correspondence of the Chicago Tribune:
Prior to relinauishing his office Gen.
Alger issued an order defining the pow
ers of the inspector general. In this or
der Gen. Alger recognized generals COM
manding army corps, divisions and mill
itary departments, but entirely ignored
the commanding general of the army.
Before the order was officially promul-
gated, but after Gen. Ayers retire
ment, Gen. Miles obtained copy of it
and called attention to the fact that he
was being ignored Gen. Miles succeed
ed in having two changes made in the
order, giving him power to issue orders
to the inspector general in certain cases
and the matter was dropped. When the
proof sheets of the order appeared it
was noticed that Gen. :flies had been
recognized. Today, however, the second
or revised proof made its appearance,
and Gen. Miles found he was again left
out entirely. He Immediately called
The attention of Acting Secretary
~ ~ a
heated discussion ensued. Some one had
evidently juggled with the order, but
who had done SO is still a mystery, al
though suspicion is directed towards
the adjutant generals Office The dis
cussion ended by Secretary Meiklejohn
deciding to hold UP the matter until
Secretary Roots return.
These performances have been going
on ever since Mr.. Alger came into office
Just think of it, The government was
called upon to raise. equip and trans.
port thousands of miles within a very
few months an army of 275,0o0 men, t.
engage in a foreign war, and this is the
kind of a spirit de corps that Alger in
spired in his department. Is it wonder
that his fellow cabinet ministers were
compelled to demand his resignation?
In discussing "Algerism" the esteemed
editor of the Review of Reviews, Mr.
Albert Shaw, says that Alger was no
strong enough or masterful enough IL
Keep the bureaucrats of the ,nlitar,
ring al Washington in their places anc
to dominate the situation himself. 80
that the condition of things so widely
condemned as 'Algerism' was due no
chiefly to anything that Alger did, bu
rather to what he did not prevent othe
people from DOING This may be tru
in the main, but with the secretary o
the department resorting to such pett,
methods to annoy a personal enemy tn
country is inclined to blame him large
ly for sins of commission as we'll a
omission.
1t is to be hoped that when Secretar
Root takes hold of things he will do S
with an iron hand, and if it is necessar
to have a general house cleaning t
stop this cat and dog performance lie
that cleaning be thorough one. 1t j
our opinion that the country will nc
object to seeing Corbin, Otis and eve
Gen. Miles go If Secretary Root think
that their departure would be for til
good OF the public service. Many az
inclined to believe that Gen. Otis /
command of the Philippine campaign
not the man for the place, and, viii
they are not disposed to claim superior
ity over the president and his assistan,
In ability to manage army affairs, the
DO think that they can see the remov'