Evening star., 1899-02-02
DEALING WITH GEN. MILES
The President Nav Relieve Him From Com
mand of the Army.
Three Propositions Decentralization
May influence the Next Presi-
Dental Election.

The report that the President intends to
| relieve General Miles of the command of
| the army account of the interviews he
has been quoted for with respect to the beef
furnished the army and other matters re-
lating to the war with Spain was discussed
with considerable interest at the Capitol
today. In the Senate and House. as else
where, there is division of sentiment as
| to the administration controversy.
Among men closest to the administration
the belief was expressed that the report as
to the President 5 intentions was correct.
1t is known that action has been conten-
plated by the President, and that three
propositions for dealing with the case We're
under discussion last evening. One was for
a court-martial, another for a court of in
quiry and the third was to relieve Gen.
Miles from command of the army without
either court-martial or inquiry. The latter
proposition was most favorably regarded.
The President has the right to relieve The
general commanding the army ct will,
without giving any reason for 1t, but this
is a right that naturally would be exercised
with great reluctance, and after careful
consideration.
Miles May Be Relieved.
1t will not cause any surprise IL at any
time an order relieving Gen. Miles is is
sued but it is believed by most people who
are in thu habit of looking at the political
side of such questions sthat the policy of
taking such radical action would not be
without danger. Even some of those who
are most antagonistic in their sentiment to-
ward Gen. Miles admit that n would posi-
bly, be a dangerous move politically.
They exhibit their apprehension on this
score by expressing the opinion that Gen.
Miles is actually trying to provoke the
President to some extreme measure, hav-
Ing the intention to enter politics and being
very ambitious. This, of course comes
from Gen. Miles npfrf4n5Iy
reason for proceeding cautiously which
Is suggested as worthy of consideration by
the President. is that Gen. Miles may have
great deal of heavy ammunition in re-
serve which he could use greatly to the
injury of the administration, and which
would give him the advantage in public
opinion should he be sacrificed in any way.
His friends say that he is speaking in the
interest Of the public, and that if he is
made to suffer for so doing there can be
no doubt that public sympathy and the
support of public opinion will be with him.
1t is said that General Miles has testi-
mony which will substantiate all that he
has said or intimated, and that, no matter
what Is done, he will be able to sustain
the position he has assumed.
Possible Political Effect.
All things considered, It is said. the Presi-
dent will probably not take the contem-
plated action until after the war commits
sion has made its report. This report, it is
1ntimated, will not deal very gently with
General Miles, and it may be made the
President
The feeling appears to be very general
that this question is going to enter into
polltlcs in a very complicating way, and
tnat II may nave great influence upon
the next presidential election The fact
that the contention circles around certain
great western corporations, 1t is said, may
broaden 1t into large proportions as a po-
ntical question.
Impossible to Verify Reports.
Although there is considerable gossip in
military and other circles over a report
that the President, at the request of the
secretary OF War, has practically deter
mined to discipline Gen. Miles for his
course in the matter of the beef supplies,
and particularly because of his alleged pub
Tic CRITICISMS of the administration in the
newspapers and otherwise, it is extremely
diffcult to get an official expression CT
OPINION on the subject,
Ihose in a position to know the views of
the fresldent and the Secretary of War
perslstently decline to say anything what
ever on the subject. General Miles and his
irlends are equally reucent. Consequently
IL was impossible today to ascertain the
ruin OF a current rumor that the Secretary
OF war had written General Miles a letter
calling attention to a number of newspa-
per statements attributed to him, with a
request to be informed as to their authen-
ucity.
1T has been variously asserted in the
newspapers that Gen. Miles is to be tried
by court-martial for alleged violations of
the articles of war, and again that he is to
be relieved of his present duties in COM
mand of the army and given a more sub
ordinate command outside OF the city of
washington So far as can be ascertained,
the principal basis for these rumors lies
In the strained relations which have existed
between Secretary Alger and Gen. Miles
almost from the beginning Of the Spanish
almost complete severance of relations, Of
f1cial as we'll as personal, until it has come
TO be believed in certain quarters that an
open rupture between the two officials is
inevitable.