Arizona republican., 1901-11-16
FOR ARMY RETIREMENT
A Hint That the Candidate Will Suf. fer If He Sends Senators and Other Supposedly Influential Persons to Annoy the President-Promotion and Appointment Must Rest on Merit.

Washington, Nov. 15.-It was an-
 nounced at the war department today
 that the names of officers to fill the vacancies in the grade of brigadier
 general would not be announced until
 congress meets. as it is not deemed
 desirable to make ad interim appoint
 ments. In addition to this statement
 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 presi-
 dent have had informal discussions on army matters on 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 obtain ing changes of stations. leaves of ab- sence. modified tions of orders. etc. Of
 course. it is understood that officers
 often deem it necessary to have atten-
 ton called to their cases by political friends for appointments. especially in the cases of young volunteer officers. who have recently been appointed. It is safe to say however, that at ] no period in the history of our govern n.ent has the matter of records been used to such good purpose as during the present reorganiza tion of the army. when the greatest possible care has been taken in the selection of per
 sons for appointment to the reor- ganized army. The president has not hesitated to inform senators and others who have applied to him. that no of ficer will improve his chances by send | ing his friends to annoy the president in his behalf.
 On the contrary. the effect which will
 be produced will probably be directly the opposite to that which the candi-
 date hopes for. Several senators and representatives have met -disappoint- ment because the persons in whom they were interested have not re- ceived appointments and the stations
 applied for by them, but the admins tra ton, as whole, is evidently of the opinion that the good sense and judg- nent of public men will lead to the same conclusion as that arrived at by the president and secretary of war: that if a system of records be thor oughly established at the war depart
 ment showing the progressive work of officers from year to year, it would be
 far better for the officers and men. well as for public officials that such a
 register be made a guide for selections | of details, etc, rather than influence. Appeals of individuals to congress- men for personal assistance in the matter above enumerated 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 the appeals. This takes the maway from their legitimate duties while congress is in session, and also interferes greatly with the public ad-
 ministration of the departments. It | is fully recognized by public officials | that the proper men in the first in stance to establish the character of the applicant for office are the sena- tors and representatives from their
 own homes, and it is eminently just
 and proper that their influence should be respected and that 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 administration that not
 only army officers. but all classes of public office-holders should rely upon | their own merits and not upon fur ther use of political influence.