The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-11-16
POLITICAL PULL
WILL NOT AVAIL
President Annoyed by
Army Officers Seek
ing Promotion.

WASHINGTON, Nov 15-It was an
bounced at the War Department to-day
that the names of the officers to fill the
vacancies in the grade of brigadier gen
eral will not be announced until Congress
meets, as 1t is not deemed desirable to
make ad interim appointments. In addl-
ton 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 President have
several occasions and it Is 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. Of course it is understood that
ton called TO their cases by political friends
for appointments especially cases of young
pointed. 1t is safe to say. however that at
no period in the history of our Government
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 APP
pointment to the reorganized army
The President has not hesitated to inform
Senators and others who have applied to him
that no officer will improve his chances bv
sending his friends to annoy the President In
his behalf. On the contrary the effect which
will be produced probably will be directly op-
Several Senators and Representatives have
had some disappointment because the per-
received the appointments 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 will lead to the
same conclusion that arrived at by the
President and Secretary of War, that is, ii a
system of records be thoroughly established
at the War Department. showing the progress
sive work of officers from year to year. it will
be far better for the officers and men, as well
public officials, that such a register be
made the guide for selections details etc.
rather than influence The appeals of indi-
viduals to their Congressman for their personal
assistance 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 information and the filing
of appeals. This takes them away from their
legitimate duties while Congress is in session
and also interferes greatly with the public adj
mnistration of the departments. 1t Is fully
recognized by public officials that the proper
men in the first instance to establish the char
acter of an applicant for office are the Sen
ators and Representatives from. their own
nome. and 1t is eminently just and proper that
their influence should be respected and they
should be responsible for the character Of the
persons recommended for office, but once in
the public service it is only fair to the ad-
ministraton that not only army officers but
all other classes of public office holders should
rely upon their own merits and not upon the
further use Of political influence.