The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-11
HEROES OF THE WAR.
The imitation of General Funston
General Lawton's Abilities.
Washington Special in New York Post.

Washington Special in New York Post.
h talk about electing General Funston
Governor of Kansas or United States SEN
ator has caused some inquiry to be made
into his qualifications for either of those
Offices remarked q veteran officer of the
Spanish war TO your correspondent to-day.
With no disposition to disparage those
qualities which he possesses in heroic meas
ure, his friends here who know him best
agree in saying that he would be very fool
ish to accept the fruits of the present fever
of hero worship which has broken out in his
State. He has been very we'll described as
a dare devil, apparently Indifferent to life
or death, and preserved. as so many
men of that sort are. by means almost
miraculous whenever placed in serious
peril. But he apparently does not combine
with his ability TO execute the ability TO
plan for more than a very little while ahead.
AS the daring poker-player differs from the
champion at chess, so Funston differs from
the men who can lay out campaigns and di-
rect the larger operations of others. Stu
dents OF our civil war will understand the
statement that Funston could probably
never be a Grant or a Sherman, though he
will perform the most effective service as a
kearny. and might rise to the d~ignfties of a
Sheridan.
The only man who, by general consent in
military circles here, has shown in himself
a combination of the ability to plan large
designs and execute them in person Is Gen.
Lawton. He has not figured as a con-
very much of the sort Of private letter
writing which finds its way into print: and
as ar orator he is nowhere, because he loses
his head completely when called upon for
remarks. and, as he describes ii himself. be-
comes deaf and blind as well as speechless.
Another officer who is winning general
praise among those who have seen most of
him in action is Col. John c.. Bates, who
ought to be placed in the front ank Of the
heToes of the war. The strong point with
Bates is that. although he has never failed
to respond when some serious work had to
be done, he has ccntrived to do ii without
making much noise, and without the loss of
any more men than necessary. Had he
gone into fights with more outward dash
and less scientific skill, the number of killed
in his would probably have been
large enough to entitle him to some of the
eminence which seems to come from leav-
ing heaps of slain upon the field.
Funston, it is thought, will have the
good sense to recognize his own strong
points and refuse to- let the politicians steer
him away from a military career. His
father was one of the most eccentric men
in public life, and the son undoubtedly pos
sesses some of the same qualities. which do
not lead to a high place in history. He is
a lover of adventure, and can win all the
fame any man desires by sticking to a pro-
fession which exactly suits his capabilities;
but the utter collapse in reputation and for
tune of so many men who leave congenia
fields in the hope of cutting a big figure
in politics is one of the most pathetic spec
tacles we in Washington are called upon
to witness"