Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-08
TWELVE PAGES.
FRIDAY. JUNE s. 1900.
OF A CLERKS DESIRE FOR GOLD
BRAID.


Even in the last hours of an expir-
Ing session of Congress. the hunger for
gold braid and the desire for the rank
of dignity of a major general, have not
sJbated in the bureaucratic Corbin. His
friends in the House possibly to es-
cape his opportunities, possibly to null
tiply imperialistic gewgaws, made de-
termined effort on Tuesday to pass the
Dill making Corbin q Major General,
and Miles, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT with
some results in the way of unpleasant
remarks both for Corbin and his cham
rions.
1t Is all in keeping with the recent
trend to pinchbecll imitation Of Euro
pean institutions. Why In the name of
common sense should Corbin be made a
major general? What has Corbin done,
what that his self-respecting country
men would not be ashamed of? He is
ranked with Algerism and all that AL
gerism im3iies. He is at once n drone,
Il toady and an incompetent; product
and DerDotuator of favoritism; Il
barnacle on the service n petty depart
mental politician. Wherefore should he
be made a major general? He is the
''chief of staff of the Secretary of War
and through him OF the President"
quoth Mr.. Hull of Iowa, who has n
son In the army. Save the mark! The
rise in rank Is to come not for intrepid
service rendered. but because Corbn is
the chief of staff" of the Secretary of
War.
Are We not going the pace. though.
Mnd who is the Secretary of War who
has a staff" the chief OF which must
he lifted by the hair of his head to the
rank of Major General? The Secretary
of War; like all the other members of
the Cabinet" is head-c clerk; nothing
more. nothing less. He Is named by the
President: he is responsible to the
President only; he may be dismissed by
the President at Will. And 1t has come
to pass that gentlemen In Congress
have discovered that this head clerk OF
the War Department has staff and
that the Staff has q chief and the chief
must be Major Geclcrai. whether or
net he ever smclled powder or would
publican club of Oshkosh out for u
Fourth of July parade.
The obvious Inference, Of course. Is
that Hon. Bill Mckinley, President of
the United States. I;m9eror OF Porto
Rico and the Philippines. and promoter
of morality and prosperity in the Gu
ban postal service. would suffer in dig
A.,
Department compelled to worry along
with a chief of staff" who was not :,
Major General. To this most estima-
ble notion of worthy and well qneanis,g
farmers. laborers. mechanics, shoe
makers. p-kcepers, it does not mat
ter rap whether the head clerk of the
War Department has a staff" or
whether its chief is u high private.
subaltern or n band-master. If the
matter were left to it. however. 1t would
probably decide in favor of the private,
because 1t has n sovereign and sensible
contempt for frippery and foppery. But.
bless you, 1--WE done expanded" and i'm
the process this chief of staff" has
found no end of 'berihs for the sons and
cousins and neohcws and 30 rela-
tions" of Congrcssmen-and the chief
OF staff wants to be a Major General.
OF n verify. we are progressing"
The clerk of the Presidents clerk is In
vested with so much OF borrowed ma
jesty that Congress has to raise his title
a notch every time an island is annexed.
But we ore progressing unequally, in