New-York tribune., 1901-11-16
MERIT SYSTEM IN ARMY
1v PRESIDENTS POLICY IN MAKING
APPOINTMENTS.
oor1TICAL AND SOCIAL INFLUENCE NOT
pECQENIZED

oo1 TTTCAII AND SOCIAL INFLUENCE NOT
RECOGNIZED
washington, Nov. 15.-It was announced at
uor Department to-day that the names OF
- officers 10 fill the vacancies in the grade Of
.,,7tar general will not be announced until
raes meets as it is not deemed desirable to
- al interim appointments In addition to
&c statement and in view of the great pressure
80, has been brought to bear, it has been
s-r,ad rroper TO make the following official
declaration:
r,a Secretary of War and the President have
= irforn1al discussions on army matters on
arai Aau occasions and it is understood that the
seN-t5a,+ has EXPRESSED himself most positively
= 4i7a use OF political and social influence %!
asoarc for the purpose Of obtaining changes Oh
+o+ions leaves Of absence, niodlncallolS Vi ". Vi
80 a4c of course. it is understood that olfl-
- ,4+en deem il necessary to have attentlon
oe,s = +bair cases by political friends for ap-
ainrT T,7ents and especially cases OF the young
Pi+aer officers who recently have been ap-
oin+ed II is safe to say, however, that at no
perod in the history Of our government aa mas o,e
p++er OF record been used to such sood purpose
m 51.rinc the present reorganization OF the
-, d when the greatest possible care has been
-aten in the selection or persons lor dppoih'
- in the re0rganlZed army
IT. IT, President has not hesitated to inform Sen
.ors and others who have applied to hlril that
a. o4f5cer viii improve his chances by senains
no no e;ands 10 annoy the President in his behalf
NE nls .be contrary the effect which VIII pe pro-
o4 ,,roloa h1y will be directly opposite 10 lildl
Luz ;ba candidate hopes for. Several senators
T,a-reeaDt atives have had some dlSappolnl-
nv hacause the persons in whom they are IN
'Ie '1.ad have not received the appointments anu
.sns annlied for by them. but the admlnlS-
.!on '1" &C a whole is evidently of the opinion
i. +he GOOD sense and judgment of pubhc men
IN ., 1aad them the same conclusion as tld. !.
VIII VII at bv the President and Secretary OF
Mrar-that is if system OF records De uloI
wa established at the War Department
te--i,e the progressive work of officers from
80 "a wear il viii be far better for the olIlCeIS
80 men as well public officials, that Sucl
agietar he made the guide for Selectons' oeoah9
20 rather than influence. The appeals OF III.
s1-i5Ta1s 10 their Congressman for thelr personal
a-ris+aTce in matters above enumerateG nectSS!-
+o+e nublic men giving up a great oeal OF tlielL
lime in locating the proper office al , "hlcl -
orrIv for information and the filing OF appedls-
H. takes them away from their legltlmate ou-
~ u.b;Ia Congress is in SESSION. and also inter
80 Greatly with the public business OF the de-
partments. ~ n,,,,lic officials that
- o-,ey mon in the first instance to estabNsh
-he character of an applicant for once are lIe
Senators and Representatives from liieiI ,I o.
So and II is erninently just and proper that
tbair influence should be respected anu 'nee
should he responsible for the character oI tile
arsons recommended for Office nut once III llle
ppuhIic service it is only fair TO the ad1lilsti
ttcn mat not only army officers, put an olIleI @
iorsas of r,uhlic off1ceholders, shoulu reiN ufol
tbair own merits and not upon the lurliier USE
Of political influence.