The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-01
He ANSWERS CRITICISM
Alger Defends His Management
of the Department.
HE WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE
For the Appointments Made in the
Service-No Political Influence Used.
Not a Single Dollar of Millions
Was Lost or Embezzled.

Washington, July S1,-One of the last
official acts of Secretary Alger, who
tomorrow will relinquish his portfolio
was to prepare a statement covering
several matters regarding the conduct
of the war which have been the sub
sect of criticism in the public press,
particularly with reference to the ap-
pontment of staff officers in the volun-
teer army. The statement follows:
Il am led to make the following state
nents on account of the many criti-
cisms which have been made by the
public press, especially on account of
the recent article which appeared IN
the London Times, containing asser-
tions which have no foundation in
truth. At the commencement of the
war with Spain and for several years
sprior to that time. the regular army
consisted of only $4,000 men. with the
.mnimum number of officers prescribed
tby law. The situation may be partly
appreciated when it is remembered that
within 60 days from the declaration of
war the strength of the army was in
creased to 275, 600 and everything for
the equipment of this great force in
GLIDING clothing. tents, transportation
medical supplies. camps and camp
equipment and all that pertains to
equipping an army for service, had to
be manufactured, transported and dis
fributed for use
From the statement referred to. the
public might be led to believe that the
volunteer army was differed by men
selected through political influence with
the secretary of war, by special favor
and without any regard to fitness for
the duties they were to perform. As IS
we'll known the NOlllDtppr force with
the exception of three regiments of en-
sineers. three regiments of cavalry and
10 regiments of immune infantry, was
made up of regiments from the vari-
Gus states, the officers of which We're
all appointed exclusively by the COVER
nors of the respective states from which
the regiments came, and any officer
found untitled for service and dis
charged was replaced by another in the
same manner. The president had no
voice nor control in the matter.
The returns of the volunteer army
show that in August, 1898. there We're
POI pa enlisted men and S,7S5 officers
in those regiments. This, with the
regular army recruited up to the war
strength, made an aggregate force of
about 275,000 officers and men. The
volunteer officers appointed by the
president number all told 1882. OF
this number AL were taken from the
regular army and 591 from civil life.
The scarcity of regimental officers in
the regular service, owing to appoint
ments in the volunteers, special re-
cruiting and mastering details, had SO
reduced their number that TO have
taken a larger number for service with
the volunteers would have seriously
impaired the efficiency of the regular
regiments. For a little over g thOuS-
and appointments made by the presi-
dent the number of applications was
over 25. 900, and each application was
accompanied by a certificate of his
ability and in most instances the mill
ttary service, either in the regular
army or state organization, and not
infrequently in both. These certifi-
rates showed that each one was as we'll
qualified for the position he sought
and to which he was appointed as
could be possible for men in civil life
in this country. OF the number ap-
pointed there were, for instance, 26
major generals, of which 10 were TAX
en- from the regular army and seven
from civil life. OF these seven, all but
one were graduates of West Point mil
itary academy and all had distin-
guished themselves in command dur
ing the civil war OF the brigadier
generals, there were 1902 appointed, Sc
from the regular army and &c from
civil life. Those from civil life had all
seen service during the civil war or
on our Western frontier and all had
mand.
TT has been stated and repeated
many times that the secretary of war
made these appointments, when the
truth is that very few Were made upon
his recommendation, although he caus-
ed the entire list with the recOmmen-
dations. to be compiled and placed be-
fore the president for his selection |
would only be too glad to have the
honor to have made these appoint
ments. No better. no more loyal or
more patriotic set of men, as whole,
ever served their country, and their
appointments were a credit not only to
the appointing power. but to the coun-
try they served. There were excep-
tions. but that could not have been
foreseen. In every walk in life men
are found who cannot carry out salts
factorily the work they have under
taken. There were three regiments of
cavalry the officers of which were ap-
pointed by the secretary of war. Col
unel Leonard Wood. now a brigadier
general and commanding the depart
ments of Santiago and Puerto Prin
ripe, was one Of these. Colonel Griggs-
BY and Colonel Torrey, both good Off
GERS, Were the other two. There were
three regiments of engineers the colo
nels of which We're all graduates of the
military academy. and not only the
officers but the enlisted men were Sc
lected with a view to their special fit
ness. and in most instances upon the
recommendations of the colonies them
selves. and all proved themselves most
efficient.
There were also ten regiments of
immune infantry. OF whose colonies
eight were graduates Of the military
academy, who were selected for spe-
cial fitness to command, and in the
short time these regiments were in ser
vice developed remarkable proficiency
CRITICISMS as to the amounts and
methods OF expenditures which could
imply the wrong or careless use of
money were also made by the London
Times. This charge is false. SO far
rs the conduct of the service was cen
Cerned, no person with any knowledge
of the facts can ever charge truthfully
and no one can ever show that a dollar
was Incorporated, stolen or embez-