Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-01
ADMIRAL SAMP-
SON S LETTER
DID NOT FAVOR M0RGAN'S AP-
POINTMENT.
RAYORS ACADEMY GRADUATES
DOES NOT BELIEVE IN MAKING
OFFICERS FROM THE RANKS
HIS ENDORSEMENT.

washington, March 1.-The full text
of Admiral SIMPSONS letter of endorse
ment to Gunner Morgan's application
for commission in the navy, has been
made public, though through no wish
of his friends. 1t has raised great deal
o fcomment all over the country, espec-
tally among those who are opposed to
too close limitation of advantages to
! graduates of the naval and military
academies. The recent West Point haz
| ing investigation brings 1t into special
prominence.
Gunner Morgan made a fine record
while on the New York, SIMPSONS flag
ship in the Spanish war, and in accor-
| dance with act congress authorizing
] the appointment or six meritorious gum
ners for commissions as ensigns, applied
! to his old commander for recommen-
dation. This is the letter in full:
Navy Yard, Boston, Mass, Feb. IA.
Endorsement 1. Respectfully forward
| ed to the Navy Department for it's con-
sderation.
''2. Mr.. Morgan has good professional
ability. He also has, which distinguish.
ed him from most other warrant officers.
gentlemanly bearing. If he were to
be commissioned as ensign he would
probably compare favorably, both pro-
fessionally and in personal conduct, with
other officers of that grade, as far as
his technical education would permit
"3. 1t is earnestly to be hoped, how
ever, that the secretary Or the navy will
not find it necessary to take advantage
of the authority which, understand, is
to be granted him to appoint a certain
number of warrant officers tc the grade
of ensigns.
while it is true that these men are
selected from a large class of men Of
very unusual ability which distin-
guishes them as perhaps the profession
al equals of their officers as far as their
technical education stands, it is also
true that they are recruited from class
Of men who have not had the social ad-
vantages that are requisite for COM
missioned officer.
ut is submitted that in time of peace
the navy's functions consists, to a GER
tain extent, of representing the country
abroad, and 1t is important that the
navy's representatives should be men
of at least refinement While there are
perhaps a certain few among the war;
rant officers who could fulfill this re-
quirement, I am of the opinion that the
vast majority of them could not.
Once they are commissioned they
will have the same social standing as
other officers and no distinction property
could be made in extending general invi-
tations. The consequences that would
arise from their acceptance might not
rebound to the credit of the navy or the
country which the navy represents
II do not mean to detract from the
sterling worth of the warrant officers
of the navy. I merely mean to suggest
to the department that, unfortunately
for them. they have been deprived of
certain natural advantages, and in con-
sequence their proper place is that IF
leading men among the crew, and not
as representatives of the country in the
wardroom and steerage.
-. I request that this may be brough.
to the personal attention of the secre-
tary of the navy.
w. T. SAMPSON,
Rear Admiral U. S. NJ, Commandant."