Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-11-16
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Important Announcement on
Military Appointments.
The President Determined to Cut
Politics Out ofthe Army.
Lieut.. Newcomb- Other Matters.

Washington, NOV. 15.-It was an
nounced at the war department, TODAY,
mat the names of the officers to fill the
vacancies in the grade of brigaGier gen
eral will not BE- announced until Con
Sresa meets. as il is not deemed desir-
able 70 make "ad interim appoint
ments. IN aditlon Ia this statement
and in View Of the great pressure that
has been brought to bear. ii mas been
deemed proper to maxi the following,
official declaration:
The secretary OF war ana the Prcsi-
deEI have had informal discussions on
army matters on several occasions and
il j. understood Inat the President has
expressed himself most positively on
the use of political ard social Influences
~ o:iIccrs. for Tho purpose Of obtaining
changes of stations, leaves of absences.
modificd tionS of orders etc.
OF course it IS understood that OFF
GERS deem it necessary to have atten-
tiun called to their cases by political
friends for appointments and especially
cases of the young volunteer officers
Who recently have been appointed. II
is safe TO say, however. that at no
period III the history of our government
such good purpose as during the pres
ent organization of the army when
tho greatest possible care has been
taken in the selection of persons for
appointment in the reorganized army.
The President has not hesitated to
inform senators and others who have
applied to him that no officers will i'm
prove his chances by sending his
friends 10 annoy the President in his
behalf. On the contrary, the effect
which will be produced probably viii
be directly opposite to that which the
candidate hopes for.
The administration as n whole Is cvi-
IDENTIFY OF the opinion that the good
sense ana Judgment Of public men will
lead them 10 the same conclusion as
that arrived at by the President and
secretary OF war, that is. if a system Of
records hA thoroughly established at
the war department showing the pro-
yressiVe work Of officers from year TO
year. it will be far better for the Off
ces ard men as well as public officials
that such a register ne made the guide
for selections. details. etc. rather than
influence.
1t is full recognized by public officials
that the proper men in the first instanc.
To establish the character OF an app!i-
cant for Office are the senators and rep
IcSentatiVcS from their own home, and
il Is eminently just ana proper that
their influence should be respected and
they should be responsible for the char
dcter Of The persons recommended for
Office but once in the public service, il
is only fair to the administration that
not only army officers but all other
classes Of public Ofliceholders should
rely upon their own merits and not up
on the further use of political influence.
Sena tor Gallnger of New Hampshire.
who was one of the Presidents callers.
today. not only opposes revision OF
the tariff, but also any tariff conces-
sions TO other countries through reci-
proCity treaties He is especially hos
tile to any treaty looking to the reduc-
ton of duties on Cana dian imports
We sell three times as much to
Continued on mage q