The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-25
RESIGNATION TALK
NOT NOW IN RECORD
General Miles's Statement Before
Senate Committee Carefully
Revised.

Washington. March 14.-The statement of
General Miles before the Senate COMMITTEES
on Military Affairs. as It will appear In
tho official records. was made public to-
night. The features which caused some
thing OF sensation when published the
day the statement was made. especially
that relating to General Miles's resfgna-
ton, do not appear. and the following
colloquy at the close Of the hearing ex-
plains It:
Mr.. Pettus: '.Afr. Chairman. I think there
ought to be some mode Of having these
notes revised"
The Chairman: That will be done"
Mr.. Pettus: THE report of the pro-
ceedings should be submitted to General
Miles with permission to strike out such
portions as ought not to be published
Mr.. Proctor: That is it."
General Miles: II do not know that there
is anything to be stricken out"
''The Chairman: I'VE have been in the
habit of submitting to the witness before
the committee. whoever he was. the stem
ographer's report OF his remarks for cor
rection. Of course"
Mr.. Pettus: Il wanted to go further than
that The stenographer has no doubt tax
en- down correctly what the General has
said but there are some things he said
which he may desire to strike out, and
think he should be allowed that privilege"
The Chairman: He must be the judge OF
that"
Mr.. Pettus: He should be allowed the
liberty Of striking out anything which ought
not to be published, even II 1t is stated
correctly in the report"
Closely Follows Written Statement.
Tba cfa
to General Miles. and the official report In
statement he had prepared and read to the
committee. Tho main facts Of the Generals
opposition to the War Department staff bill
were given at the time. Some Of the fea-
lures Of the statement however, not re-
ported at the time are Of interest. Concern
ing the Inspector Generals department, he
said:
In the bill under consideration II is pro-
posed to abolish entirely the corps of in
spectors who have been most instrumental
In keeping the army up to its high char
acter and efficiency and in discovering de-
falcations. ineflciency and maladministra-
ton, and, on the other hand, in encouraging
and reporting meritorious conduct. efficiency
and ability In all the different commands
and departments OF the service"
Further along, General Miles said Of the
bill:
TT Is GENERALIZATION Of tho most pro-
nounced type, augments the power Of the
staff, and In effect removes It further from
touch with the fighting force Of the army
The scheme IS revolutionary. casts to the
winds the lessons Of experience and
abandons methods which successfully
carried US through the most memorable war
epochs OF our history. The proposed plan
is but an effort to adopt and foster. in a
republican form Of government such as ours,
n system peculiarly adapted to monarchiea
having immense standing armies. II would
seem to Germanize and Russianize the small
army OF the United States"
Experience In Spanish War.
General Miles said that before the Span
ish War began he called on President Nc
Kinley and that when the President said he
supposed the army was ready. he General
Miles) replied:
1.-The army. rs far as the personnel IS con-
cerned. is ready for any service. but there
is much to be done in the way of equip
ment, and the defense OF the coast which
ought to be supplied at the other end of the
Capitol
The President. he added, consulted MEM
bers of Congress. and the $780, 600 defense
fund was voted.
In addition to that portion OF the state
ment heretofore published showing how tho
President could. by promotions. make n
Captain Chief Of Staff with the grade OF
Lieutenant General. General Miles said:
1T seems to me you are throwing the
door wide open for future autocrat or n
military despot. It is not. in my Judgment,
in accordance with the principles and the
DRY OF democratic government, and for the
best interests of the army. which has ex-
listed moro than n hundred years and full
filled all your requirements, to adopt such q
scheme"