Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-06
THE ADMIS,srKArloN RING.

There is snug little ring at WASH
ington, embracing, besides the pollt-
clans of the Presidential circle, few
army and navy pets, which appears to
be sort of mutual admiration socl-
ETY., converting everything that comes
it's way into grist for the fattening OF
the chosen ones on the inside.
We know who the army representa-
tives are or have been in this close
little corporation-the country has had
cause to blush for them. The naval
representatives appear to be Rear Ad-
miral Sampson and Rear Admiral
Crowninshield, of the navigation bu-
reau.
1t appears for some time to have been
the Administrations desire in this con-
nection to boost Admiral Sampson,
who for some reason best known in the
inner administration circles has long
been the administration naval pet to
the exclusion of better officers and
the real naval heroes of the Spanish
war.
Suffice it to say that nothing has
been too good for Sampson on the
Presidential table, although wherein
Simpsons worthiness lies the country
has long been at a loss to imagine,
since he has been noted chiefly for his
supreme selishness, to use no harsher
language, in endeavoring on a certain
memorable occasion to take from
brother officer the credit for a great
naval victory and appropriate it as his
own.
The peculiar workings of this admin
istration mutual admiration society
have never been more startlingly illus
trated than by the recent annual report
of Rear Admiral Crowninshield, chief
of the bureau of navigation. This re-
port covers the incidents of the Spanish
war and is most astounding docu-
ment. 1t is nothing less than vii
famous attack on Rear Admiral Schley
which, however, was to have been ex-
pected from past exhibitions of the ad-
ministration's hatred of this gallant
sailor-and an almost equally vicious
and underhand attack upon no less a
parsonage than Admiral Dewey. The
report lauds Sampson as the greatest
factor in the war with Spain and gees
out of its way to helitt.e and discredit
Schley, the real hero of the Atlantic
squadron, while it actually reflects on
Congress for honoring Admiral Dewey
and on the Senate for not comforting
honors on administration pets specislly
selected by the ring as Sampson was.
1t is one of the most remarkable
papers ever issued from the navy de-
partment and officers of the navy are
astounded at the audacity of Crownin-
shield. The only explanation is that
Crowninshield is backed by the Pres
ident. who. himself, it is believed,
prompted his extraordinary report.
To quote Washington dispatch on
this interesting subject, the part of
Rear Admiral Crowninshields report
which has astounded those who have
read it is as follows:
Another condition of affairs discourage
ing TO proud and ambitions officers who
have risked and accomplished is the rag
ged and irregular result that seems an in
evitable consequence of any effort 10 give
permanent or substantial official recogni-
ton to bravery, gallantry or devotion
Then referring to the pledge of pro-
motion which Secretary Long made be-
fore the war the report says:
Every effort of the department to re-
deem this solemn pledge has been baked
OF the officers who served In the north Al
lantic waters three have been confirmed in
the recognition urged BY the Department
Hwo because their cases were presented It