Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-11-25
MERIT IN THE army
WILL Be THE INFLUENCE
In GETTING PROMOTION
Social and Political Standing Of 0fic-
erS Must Not be Brought Into
Use So Roosevelt Takes
Strong Stand.
Photo By Dosney. London.

Washington. Nov. 15.-It was an
nounced at the War Department today
that the names of the officers to I'LL
vacancies in the grade of Brigadiey
General will not be announced until
Congress meets, as 1t Is not deemed
desirable to make ad interim appoint
and In view of the great pressure that
has been brought to bear, 1t has been
deemed proper to make the following
official declarations:
THE Secretary Of War and the
President have had informal discus.
sions on army matters on several oc.
casions, and It Is understood that the
President has expressed himself most
positively on the use OF political and
social influence by officers for the pur.
pose OF obtaining changes OF stations.
leaves OF absence, notifications of or.
ders, etc. or course. II is understood
that officers often deem 1t necessary
to have attention called to their cases
by political friends for appointments,
especially cases Of young volunteer of.
ficers, who recently have been appoint.
ed. 1t Is safe to saw, however. that at
no period In the history of our gov.
eminent has the matter of record
been used to such good purpose as
during the present reorganization OF
the army, when the greatest possible
care has been taken in the selection
OF persons for appointment to the re.
organized army.
THE President has not hesitated to
inform Senators and others who have
applied to him that no officer will i'm.
prove his chances by sending his
friends to annoy the President In his
behalf. On the contrary. the effect
which will be produced probably will
be directly opposite to that which the
candidate hoped for.
several Senators and Representa-.
uves have had some disappointment
because the persons In whom they are
interested have not erceived the an.
pointments and stations applied for
by them, but the Administration, as
a whole. is evidently of the opinion
that the good sense and Judgment OF
public men will lead to the same con.
clusion as that arrived at by the
President and Secretary Of War-that
Is, II system of records be thorough.
ly established at the War Department.
showing the progressive work of Off.
GERS from year to year, II will be far
better for the officers and men, as
well as public officials, that such a reg.
lister be made the guide for selections,
details, etc, rather than inuuence.
THE appeals of individuals to their
Congressman for their personal assist.
ance In the matters above enumerat.
ed necessitates public men giving up
great deal of their time in locating
the proper Office at which to apply for
information and the filing of appeals.
This takes them away from their le,
gitimate duties while Congress Is in
session, and also interferes greatly
with the public administration of the
departments. II Is fully recognized
by public officials that the proper men
In the first instance to establish the
character of an applicant for Office
are the Senators and Representatives
from their own home. and 1t is emit
nently Just and proper that their infiu
ence should be respected and theu
should be responsible for the charar
ter of the persons recommended for of
flee, but once in the public service it il
only fair to the Administration that
not only army officers, but all Other
classes of public office holders. should
rely upon their own merits and moi
upon the further use of political inau
necs"