The Forrest City times., 1899-07-21
THE BIG THREE.
Signs of a Conspiracy in the war Management for Political
 Profit.

There is no Goubt that the admins tration-meaning by that the presi- dent, the secretary of war and the sec retary of the navy-entered on the management of the war with Spain de- termined that no army nor naval hero should be developed who might be- come a popular favoIite and receive a presidential nomination in 1900. The conspiracy was directed against the soldiers and sailors of both political parties with a view that no commander by sea or land, gaining victories and acquiring the popularity with which Americans crown their heroes, should become candidate for president in opposition to Mckinley next year. This Line of policy has prevailed throughout in those departments of the adminis- tration by which the movements Of the war were directed.
 At the commencement of the war Me Kinley and the gang of politicians by whom his interests are served feared General Miles more than they feared anybody else, the Spaniards included. As the commanding officer of tho army if he was permitted to conduct the cam paigns in the field he would be given the credit of all the victories gained by our troops. The American people inevita- bly reward their successful generals with presidential nominations. Wash ington, Jackson, Taylor and Grant were elected to the presidency because they were military heroes. Scott and Me Clellan were nominated for president on their war records. Even Hayes who was nominated for president, but not elected, though he held the office, having been counted in-was supported on the few lines of his history as one of the mob of brigadier generals whose names were on the pay rolls during the civil war. Garfield and Mckinley are claimed to have won military renown. Americans are martial people and venerate their war heroes. The presi- dent and his secretaries appreciated this fact when the war opened and General Miles, with good military record, was the officer of highest rank in the army.
 That is the reason why no important command, except that of the Porto Rico expedition, was given to General Miles. It is the reason why his services in Porto Rico were cut short and belittled, while tbe campaign on that island, without serious bloodshed, was the most successful and fruitful of the war It :5 the reason why he was assailed Vx-ifh o1v nd src bn denounced the sales of "embalmed beef" for the rations of our troops. His destruction as soldier insured the ab- sence of at least one probable com pe.itor with Mckinley for the repub- lican presidential nomination in 1900.
 Democratic soldiers were suppressed in the same way. It was feared the prominence of some democrat in a suc- cessful campaign would develop dan- gerous opponent for Mckinley at the presidential election. They appear to have feared General Fitzhugh Lee the most. He was the best man on earth to have been placed in military and civil command in Cuba. But there was the possibility of a democratic president In the sound of his name. He was kept in obscure commands, was hidden un- der the higher rank of men in every way his interiors and left to rust out for fear his labors in a prominent posi- tion would clothe him with an irresist- able popularity before the people.
 Other instances might be cited. The war on Admiral Schley was inspired by apprehensions that, as the victorious commander in the greatest sea fight since metal vessels were employed in warfare, the people would insist on electing him to the presidency. Dewey would have been turned down" in the same way had it been possible. The his tory of the Spanish war is history of low-down politics on the part of the administration, without a parallel in the past of this or any other country.- Chicago Chronicle.