Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-03-28
NOT SHOT FOR ROOsEYELT.

Recent Washington dispatches state that
Lieutenant General Miles may be retired
from active service because Of his very plain
spoken criticism of the War Departments
bill for the organization Of q general staff.
The officer Of highest rank In the army, at
the invitation OF the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs, appeared recently before
that body and gave his views as military
expert on the War Departments measure.
lie condemned 1t absolutely as "vicious"
measure, un-American 10 character and
tending 10 the establishment oil q military
bureaucracy. General Miles also intimsted,
according to reports OF his testimony, that
under the proposed system political favorit.
ism would be the determining influence in
appointments. He made II clear TO the
Senate committee that the bill, in his opin-
ion, would create what might become ulti
mately dangerous military oligarchy, as
1t is proposed to vest unusual powers in the
general staff.
These outspoken statements Of the Cen
eral Commanding the Army are understood
10 have given great offense 10 high quar-.
ters. The bill, although introduced by SEN
ator Hawley, Of Connecticut, is substan-
TALLY Government measure. 10 the main
II embodies the ideas of Mr.. Root, the Sec.
rotary OF War, whose dearest ambition, it Is
said, is to increase the efficiency Of the army
and 10 give the country q military system
as thorough and scientific as that of the
European nations which have the general
staff system. Apparently Senator Hawley,
who Is the ostensible patron OF the measure,
Is not convinced that the proposed change
is desirable from an American point of
view, for he is quoted In recent interview
as saying that the principle involved in Mr..
Roots bill is not q safe one.
The most interesting point, however, is
the right of General Miles 10 speak his mind
freely on a measure which has the sanction
Of the War Department. AT Cabinet
meeting last week, II is stated, his statements
before the Senate committee were discussed
by the President and his advisers. Accord.
ing 10 reports, the Cabinet decided that Gen.
Miles had rendered himself liable to censure
by sntagonizing measure which has the
approval of the highest officials of the Gov.
eminent. Now, 1t is intimAted, he will be
retired at the earliest opportunity as mark
of official disapprovaI OF his vigorous criti-
cism Of the War Departments bill,
In discussing the Roosevelt. Miles contro
versy, Henry Walterson has this TO say in
an interview;
"From the day when General Miles re-
fused TO become an orderly for the Admin.
istration he was marked for punishment.
While Mr.. Mckinley lived this was limited
TO condemnation chiefly. But with the ad.
vent Of Mr.. Roosevelt more drastic course
OF proceeding was adopted. He fairly leap
cd at the first chance TO assall and humliate
General Miles.
Retirement Is the club which Is held by
chance occupant Of the White House over
the head Of the Lieutenant General OF the
Army, who was fighting the battles Of his
country when our Presidential bronco buster
was fighting the battles of the nursery. Just
now this club Is particularly in evidence,
the occasion being General Miles opposition
10 the Administrators new bill. This bill
ought TO be entitled An act TO make the
President of the United States a military
DICTATOR because In effect that Is precisely
what II proposes.
"fhe President has 30 long and SO sue
cessiully played the part of cowboy in poll
tics that he really aspires TO becomes the
Man on Horseback Differences of opin.
ion are not to be endured. The intolerance
which marked the Dreyius epoch in France
Is TO be the rule or measure Of the American
War Department An astute and able New
York attorney and politician is TO find the
law for Il. Because he answered the call
Of a committee Of Congress Miles is to be
retired. Moral-Let the officers OF the army
beware. Result-Arbtrary power culmi
mating In absolutism.
"Thus slowly, slowly but surely, is the
Administration 'Mexicanizlng' the Govern
ment OF the United States"