The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-23

Washington. Dec. 2-Lieutenant Genera
MiIes's reprimand and fall from presidential
grace has aroused the keenest gossip il
army circles as to who will be his army
,, successor at Mr.. Roosevelt's right hand a,
!. the White House.
BY his indiscretion, General Miles hae lost
the influence that promised to make him
the exponent of the army in the Roosevelt
administration. The friendship between the
President and the General, born before the
war with Spain and cemented by the action
OF the latter in endeavoring to facilitate
the transfer of the Rough Riders from
Santiago to Porto Rico to take part in the
command in the latter island. resulted in
the establishment Of the commanding Cen
eral in high favor when Mr.. Roosevelt as
sumed the ONCE he now occupies
During the Mckinley administration Gen.
eral Miles who. as the commanding Cen
erai was entitled to first place in army
matters. was kept in the background, while
Adtutant General Corbin welded the power
General Miles felt that he was being un-
justly treated. and he did not hesitate to
let the fact become known in the War De-
partment, and the White House. But Cen
eral Corbin had the advantage Of lifelong
friendship with Mr.. Mckinley. and it was
through him. in important affairs in con-
HectfonA with the army. rather than through
the commanding General of the army that
action was taken by the President and the
Secretary Of War.
Corbin May ReEain Lost Favor.
Oficers Of the line. especially friendly to
General Miles. were consequently elated At
the change In position Of the commanding
General. when Mr.. Roosevelt entered into
power General COfbin's visits to the White
House became infrequent, while General
Miles almost daily visited the President
to consult with him about army affair1
General Miles. ON various occasions. has
ridden with the President and. during the
rides. discussed With him matters Of inter-
est and importance. The Generals friends
now fear. however. that all this is changed.
Prestdent Roosevelt orally criticised the
General before others and the Secretary of
War. By direction OF the President. admins
tors one Of the sharpest repfimands known
in the history Of the service.
General Miles's feelings toward the Pres
tdent are consequently not as warm as they
have been, nor has the President as much
before the latter expressed himself upon the
0chley case.
So the army is looking for the appearance
OF new army representative at the White
House. With General Miles out Of the way,
Adjutant General Corbin's friends hope that
he will regain the ascendency he acquired
during the Mckinley regime. II il pointed
out that General Corbin Is always discreet
He was never repr1maEded for an interview
and he absolutely declined to discuss the
Schley case. though his Views were sought
by several newspaper men. Mr.. Mckinley
placed absolute reliance upon General Cor
bins tact and judgment and Secretary Root
also has great faith in him.
President's Severity Criticised.
But MIR. Roosevelt has not forgotten Gen.
eral Corbin's attitude toward him during
the Spanish war and whether the Adjutant
General. with General Miles out Of the
way. can return to the place he held at the
White House is question. the solution
OF which the army gossips will await with
interest
II Brigadier General Leonard Wood were
in Washington. undoubtedly he would be
the Presidents mainstay. outside Of Secre-
tary Root. in military matters but General
Wood is in Cuba and will not be relieved
from duty in that island until next sum-
mer
To-day General Corbin seems to have q
clear field and those who know him best
predict that he will come under the wire
\ winner
The friends Of Lieutenant General Miles
are disposed to criticise the President for
the severity Of the censure that he imposed
through Secretary Root. They say that the
services Of General Miles should have count
ed for something. They point out that
General Miles has distinguished record |
extending for forty years. He was a SOL
dier. they say. fighting for the Union whe,
The President wa. learning his letters. and
The placing on him Of this stigma almost |
at the close of his active career in the
army. is something that the public will re- /
and resent