Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-14
SANGER APPOINTED
New Assistant Secretary Of War
Sworn In.
new YORK SENATORS AT VHITEHOUSE
Withdrew Their Opposition to the
Selection.
lSSU E A STATEN ENT

The President today appointed William
| Cary Sanger of New York as assistant
| secretary of war, to succeed George ID.
| Meiklejohn Of Nebraska.
Senators Platt and Depew of New York
We're in conference with the President half
an hour this morning regarding the ap-
| pointment of Col William Cary Sanger.
| They were uncommunicative on their de-
| parture and said that the President would
have to announce the result of the con-
| ference so far as they were concerned.
Shortly afterward this statement was made
by an official Of the White House:
The New York senators called on the
President this morning, and for the first
time the subject of Col. Sanger's appoint
ment as assistant secretary of war was re-
ferred to. Having gone over the matter
fully with the Secretary of War, the sena-
tors desired to say that they would offer
no objection to Col. Sangers appointment"
The statement was complete surprise,
particularly in view of the fact that the
conference was an unusually long one and
had all the earmarks of being more than a
mere acquieScence in the desires of the
Secretary of War. There was no evidence
of disappointment in the remarks of the
two senators. however. They had evidently
decided that there would be no use in pro-
testing. Their long conference is account
ed for on the theory that they were prob
ably explaining in detail TO the President
Just why this appointment would be un-
paiatable to them.
1t is declared that Colonel Sanger has re-
peatedly attacked Senator Platt personally
and has done many things to make him OBJ
noXious to Senator Platt and the regular
organization of New York. On the other
hand, the argument that the appointment
is a personal one with the Secretary OF
War appealed strongly to the two senators.
The President himself is said TO hold this
view, as already stated in The Star.
From the White House the New York
senators went to the War Department.
where they had long talk with Secretary
Root. Not long afterward the appointment
of Colonel Sanger was announced.
Enters Upon His Duties.
Colonel Sanger Immediately entered upon
the discharge of the duties of his new Of
fice His commission was made out at the
War Department this morning and was
signed by the President during the fore
noon.
Soon after Colonel Sanger appeared at the
War Department and was Immediately rsh-
cred into the private Office Of Secretary
Root. There, in the presence Of Lieutenant
General Miles and Chief Clerk Scofeld, he
subscribed to the regulation oath of office
to support the Constitution, etc. The oath
was administered by Mr.. Randolph. chief
of the record division. and was signed by
Colonel Sanger. In it he gives his resi-
dence as "Sangerfeld, county of Oneida,
state of New York
The new assistant secretary is a guest at
the home of Secretary Root, and the two
took luncheon there this afternoon. Ac-
cording to an arrangement made in TIE
morning, Colonel Sanger took formal LOS
session of the office OF assistant secretary
in the afternoon and was introduced to the
bureau chiefs and other principal officers
of the department.
Mr.. MefklejOhn's Position.
The following official statement was made
by the Secretary of War this afternoon in
regard to the appointment:
Some time before the expiration of the
last administration, and before the reap
pointment of the cabinet, Assistant Secre-
tary Meklejohn notified the President that
by reason of his candidacy for the Senate,
the long canvas attending ii and the neces-
sity that there should be an assistant secre-
tary who could be present I'm Washinston
to perform the duties of the office, he was
unwilling to permit his name to be consid-
cred for reappointment. MIR. William c.
Sanger has accordingly been appointed and
win Immediately enter upon the discharge
of his duties"
1t appears from the above statement that
Mr.. Meklejohn was not removed from Of
flee, and that he did not submit a formal
resignation of his office. There is no spe-
cial surprise over the fact that Mr.. MeikIe-
john was not reappointed. 1t has been gem
orally understood ia the War Department
for a long time that Mr.. Meiklejohn would
not resume his official duties there, regard
less of the result OF the senatorial election
in Nebraska. The appointment of his sue
cessor, therefore, involves no reflection
upon his administration in the War Depart
ment.
To Meet the New Official
The adjutant general issued the follow
ing notice this afternoon to all the officers
of the army stationed in this vicinity:
THE Secretary of War desires the pres
ence Of yourself and the officers on duty
with you at the War Department at 10
o'clock am, March Is, 1901, in full uni
form, for the purpose of presenting the
officers of the army on duty in Washing
ton and vicinity to the assistant secretary
of war. the Hon. William Cary Sanger"
Sketch of Col. Sanger.
William Cary Sanger was born I'm Brook
lyn on May p, 1853. He was graduated
from Harvard in 1874, and received the de-
gree of master of arts from Harvard in
1875, and of bachelor of laws from Column
bia in 1878. He entered the Office of Ev-
arts, Southmayd & Choate of New York,
but soon gave up the practice of law to
devote his time to farming in his home at
Sangerfield, Oneida county. He isan ad-
vocate of civil service reform. and has
given considerable attention to the SUBJ
ject. He is also Interested in the subject
of good roads and in purifying the political
work of primaries.
1885, when he was made quartermaster
with the rank of major in the Sd Brigade
staff of the New York National Guard At
the disbandment of the brigade he went on
the supernumerary list, and afterward was
appointed by Gen. McLeer quartermaster
of the I'd Brigade. He received his COM
mission assistant chief of artillery, with
the rank of colonel, on March &. 1893. He
was sent by the adjutant general to Chick
amauga at the outbreak of the Spanish
war to report on the subject of mobilizing
the army. Then he was detailed to the
pay department for service at Camp Alger,
and when the division headquarters were
removed to Camp Black he did good SER
vice as provost marshal on the staff of
Gen. Roe. He went to Camp Black later
as the lieutenant colonel of the 203d Regi-
ment and served with that command at
Camp Meade and Camp Wetherill.. !. He has
also served inspector on the staff Of
Mai. Gen. Roe. He went abroad last year
to study the British system OF auxiliary
forces under instructions from Gov. Roose-
welt and Secretary Root.
Child Develops Smallpox.