Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-22
PUNISHMENT OF NILES
Roosevelt and Root Will Not
Take Hasty Action in His
Case.
They Believe, However. That HIS
Is a Disturbing Element in
the Army.
His Early Retirement Would Be
for the Good OF the
Service.

/ Washington, March 22.-Presiden'
! Roosevelt and Secretary Root are NOV
ing with great caution in regard to the
prospective punishment by retirement
or otherwise of Lieutenant General
Miles.
/ His case occupied the entire atten-
ton of the cabinet yesterday, and the
sentiment of the presidents advisers
4 was practically unanimous to the Ell
feet that the general was disturbing
element in the army, and that as long
as he remained there would be con-
/ slant friction of a serious character.
AT the same time, it was evident to
the members of the cabinet that an at
| tempt TO punish the general because
of his testimony before the committee
would certainly be resented in congress
an as infringement upon the const1tu-
tional right of the legislative branch OF
the government to send for persons and
papers and inform itself as to the needs
Of the country.
| Several members of both houses of
congress advised the president, that
| they could not sustain him in any ac-
| ton by which he could assume to pun
| ish or even to rebuke his subordinates
/ for appearing before a congressional
committee when asked to do and giving
| testimony upon any branch OF the gov
eminent in which they were particu-
| larry interested.
The members of the cabinet and the
president himself were inclined to, take
| the view that general Miles state
ment to the committee was privileged,
but there is additional evidence to the
effect that he has been lobbying on the
floor of the senate against the bill OF
Secretary Root, but which, as every
one knows, represents the personal
views of the President of the United
States.
Whether General Miles will be placed
upon the retired list by the president or
whether sor,e other means VIII pc
found TO discipline him has not yet nm.
ally been determined, but the president
in coming to decision In the matter
will not attach much Importance to the
precise language of General Miles be-
fore the committee or to the conten-
ton that he was privileged to speak
his mind freely, having been asked TO-
appear before the committee by it's
chairman, General Hawley.
The main fact of the controversy is
the assertion that General Miles has
been disloyal to the administration,
and insubordinate, a mishief-nsaker,
and a nuisance for nearly four years,
and that he had been q thorn in the
side of the president and secretary Of
war of at least one democratic admin
istration.
The president and secretary of war
feel that the lieutenant generals con-
tinued INSTRUMENTATION tends to break
down the discipline and good order of
the army and the war department. and
they have about come to the conclusion
that he must be suppressed.
1t may be this will be accomplished
by the publication Of the correspond
ence that passed between the president
and General Miles a few weeks ago.
when the general made an application
to be sent to the Philippines to super
cede General Chaffee and suppress the
insurrection there without bloodshed
and according to little plan Of his
own, the outlines of which he gave to
the president
THE newspapers have misquoted my
statements before the committee" said
General Miles. IT did not say l would
resign from the army If the Root bill
became a law. I did state to one of the
senators that might as well go on the
retired list IL the measure under con-
were enacted by congress.
This is quite different from saying that
I would resign. aiti
II have no intention to ask for retire
ment. I do not expect to be forced TO
make such request. That is some
thing I hear of periodically, but 1 do
not fear such an action merely because
I expressed my views on pending legis- |
lation to a congressional committee at
it's request. There is no crime in this, |
and I shall continue to exercise what l
believe my right, and discharge what i
feel to be my duty whenever the occas-
ion presents itself. / did not make the
foolish statement which has been at
tributed to me-a sort of boast that
could name the favorites of the presf-
dent and the adjutant general who
WOulu De appointed uIlQSI lIll5 new |
bill"
There is strong feeling in the add
that General Miles has the
bee in his bonnet, and that |
he would like nothing better than to be
retired as the result of his testimony,
thus making martyr of him, or at |
least arousing interest in him turnout
the country.
A well-known official of the govern
ment, who is undoubtedly In the conf
dence of the president, but who natur-
ally declined to permit the use of his
name, explained the situation from the
point of view by say
ing:
General Miles has long been a can
didate for president He desires 10 be |
an anti administration and democratic |
candidate. This was true of his ambi- |
tons just after the Spanish war; while
Mckinley was president, and it also is
true now. I will pass over his conduct |
from the time he returned from Porto
Rico until the death of Mckinley and
confine myself entirely to his exploits I
since President Roosevelt came into Of
flee"