The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-25
THE PROPOSED WAR COLLEGE
ITS PURPOSE AND SCOPE OUTLINED
BY SECRETARY ROOT.
War Department without Power to
tial-Idaho Riot Investigation.

Judge Taft, of Ohio; Luke Z. Wright, or
Tennessee; II. c. Ide. of Vermont, and
Dean Worcester, of Michigan. The fifth
member will be Announced later. 1t is gen.
orally believed he will.be Bernard Moses, OF
California.
Ex-Representative James Hamilton Lew
is. of Washington State, had final con-
ference with the President to-day concern
ing his appointment as one Of the Philip
pine commissioners. The President had
had the subject under consideration. Col
Lewis frankly told the President that he
was not i'm accord with his Philippine
policy. The President, equally frank, then
told Colonel Lewis that while he would be
delighted to honor him because of his per-
sonal regard, he could not appoint him.
Colonel Lewis assured the President of his
appreciation of the personal confidence ex-
pressed and asked him to consider some
other Pacific coast man for the place.
Gen. Luke E. Wright is one of the best
known lawyers in the South. He was born
in Pulaski. Giles county. Tennessee. fifty
three years ago, and was educated at the
University of Mississippi. He entered the
Confederate army at an early age and
served as private throughout the war.
After the war he began the practice of law
in Memphis and has been associated with
many Of the most distinguished lawyers in
the South. He was a partner of United
States Senator Thomas B. Turley through
a long series of years. General Wright has
been lifelong Democrat and has been
closely identified with that party for thirty
years and served as delegate to the
q
1884. General Wright is a firm believer in
expansion. -
The plans of Secretary Root regarding
the projected war college are set out in a
letter of instructions, addressed by him to
the board charged with perfecting the plan.
The letter follows: 1.-THE main purpose Of
the proposed war college for the army, to
be established in this city, is, in general,
to further the higher instruction of the
service, to develop and organize in accord
ance with coherent and unified system,
the existing means of professional educa-
ton and training, and to serve as co-or-
dinate agency through which all means of
professional military information shall be
at the immediate disposal of the military
authorities. While ii is recognized that the
complete organization Of the institution
must be matter of gradual growth. it is
desired that the preliminary steps toward
its organization shall be taken as rapidly
as circumstances will permit. In the gen.
eral plan now under consideration of the
War Department, the college will be ex-
pected to consider and report upon the
various questions affecting the welfare and
efficiency of the army, including organiza-
ton, methods of administration armament,
equipment, transportation, supplies, mObil
ization, concentration, distribution mill
tary preparation, plans of campaign, and
such other professional matters as may be
referred to it. The college is also expected
direct methods a
several service schools, so as to develop
their highest efficiency and to devise rules
for the harmonious and effective co-opera-
ton OF all the military forces of the United
States, including the organization of an in
structed reserve. Other matters demanding
its attention will be consideration of meth
DDS for full cooperation of the military
and naval forces in time of war, with
view TO thorough understanding and con-
cert of action for military operations, de-
fensive and offensive.
General Ludlow has been designated as
president of the board. 1t will meet in this
city next Monday.
In an opinion rendered to the War De-
partment, the attorney general has decided
that the secretary of war is without power
to alter or recommend the record of any
court-martial. The case in point was that
of Lieut.. Lewis E. Brown Ninth United
States Volunteer Infantry who was court
martialed at Santiago, Nov. II, 1898, and
found guilty of a charge of conduct unbe-
coming an officer and a gentleman and
dismissed from the service After the court
was dissolved and the sentence had been
executed, the lieutenant submitted afil-
davits to show that the record of the court
martial did not contain the testimony of
one witness. This was declared to be a
fatal error. inasmuch as the reviewing
authority did not have before it all of the
testimony, as required by the records 1t
was sought to have the record of the court
ma tR6 " fha incl IF Id
missing evidence in order that the DEPART
ment might review IL iii a new light. This
the attorney general holds, cannot be DONE
The House committee on military affairs
| to-day continued the investigation of Idaho
labor riots. Mr.. Stinson concluded his mar
rative, begun yesterday. on the treatment
he received while under arrest, and r. v.
Crozier. United States district attorney
| for Idaho, testified as to the prosecution OF
the miners. He had prosecuted thirteen of
them and convicted ten for interfering with
mail trains. Beyond these legal proceed
| ings he had no information on the subject
He said, however, that he had expressed
| the opinion that wholesale arrests by the
military without the formality of warrants
were illegal. Ransom Miller, night
Waterman at one of the mines near the
scene of the disturbance, testified that he
was arrested without process and without
charges, although he had been in the hos
Bunker Hill mine. The witness described
| the arrangement of the prisons and the
vileness regarding the inability of the hum
dreds on the upper floor to get adequate
sanitary appliances.
The committee adjourned until Monday
| when the witness will continue his testi-
mony. The committee has decided to SUBJ
poena General Corbin and Captain Bennett
| of the army. to get from them certain
| features of the action of the military au-
thorities while on duty in Idaho.
| 1t is understood TO be the purpose of the
| War Department. In carrying out its al
! ready announced policy of reducing the
| force OF troops I'm Cuba, to begin within six
| weeks the reduction of the present force of
| nine thousand to about five thousand,
which limit Will be reached by the begin
| ming of summer The proposition is under
| consideration TO organize three complete
4 Cuban regiments, with Cuban officers, to
| replace the United States troops In garri-
| sons and to form the nucleus of the Cuban
| army, which would exist when the island
passes from the United States control.
| Senator Allison, chairman of the Repub-
lican caucus. to-day appointed the commit
| tee on order of business authorized by the
| caucus. 1T IS composed OF Senators ALI
! son. Hale, Aldrich. Cullom. Wolcott Sewell.
/ Spooner. Mcbride and Hanna
The diplomatic appropriation bill was to-
| day reported to the Senate by the commit
tee on appropriations. The appropriation