Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-16
PROMOTIONS
THROUGH PULLS
Polltlca and Social influence viii
Not Avail Officers.
PRESIDENT Is AGAINST 1T.
Has SO Informed Senators and Others
Record Will Count for More
Than Anything Else.

Washington. Nov. l5.-It was an
nounced at the war department today
that the names of the officers TO I'll the
vacancies In the grade Of brlgadier-
general will not be announced until
Congress meets, as II IL not deemed de-
srable to make ad interim appoint
ments. In addition to this statement
and In view OF the great pressure that
has been brought to bear, It has been
deemed proper TO make the following
official declaration:
''The secretary OF war and the Presi-
dent have had informal discussions on
army matters on several occasions and
II Ia understood that the President has
expressed himself most positively on
the use OF political and social influence
by officers for the purpose Of obtaining
changes Of stations, leaves Of absence,
notifications OF orders etc. or course
II IL understood that officers often deem
II necessary to have attention called to
their cases by political friends for APP
polntments, especially cases Of young
volunteer officers who recently have
been appointed. II IN safe 10 say, how
ever, that at no period In the history of
our government has the matter OF rec
ord been used 10 such good purposes as
during the present reorganization of the
army, when greatest possible care has
been taken In the selection of persons
for appointment to the reorganized
army.
1.-THE President has not hesitated to
inform senators and others who have
applied to him that no officer will Inn
prove his chances by sending his
friends 70 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 hopes for. Several senator's
and representatives have had some
disappointment because the persons In
whom they are Interested have not re-
ceived the appointments and stations
applied for by them, but the admins
tration as a whole Is evidently Of the
opinion that the good sense and judy
ment of public men will lead to the
same conclusion as that arrived at by
the President and secretary Of war;
that Is. If system of records be thor
oughly established at the war depart
ment, showing the progressive work of
officers from year 10 year, II will be
far better for the officers and men, as
well as public officials that such reg
lister be made the guide for selections,
details, etc, rather than influence.
1.-THE appeals of individuals TO their
congressman for their personal assist
ance In the matters above enumerated
necessitate public men giving up
great deal Of their time in locating the
proper office at which TO apply for in
formation and the filing Of appeals.
This takes them away from their legit-
innate duties while Congress in the ses-
sion and also interferes greatly with
the public administration Of the de-
partment.
1T is fully recognized by public Of
ficials 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 II Is eminenty just and
proper that their influence should be
respected and they should be RESPONSE
Bile for the character OF the persons rec
commended for office; but once in the
public service It Is only fair TO the
administration that not only army Of
flcers. but all other classes OF public
officeholders should rely upon their own
merits and not upon the further use Of
political influence"