The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-08-07
WASHINGTON.
From our REGULAR Correspondent.
Washington, August 4, Ioy


The dissatisfaction in the War De.
partment, generated by the acton of
Secretary Root IN assigning Brig.
Gen. William II. Garter, acting adiu-
tant general in Gen Corbin's absence,
over the heads of Col. John b Bah
cock and Col William p. Hall, does
not abate as time goes on. 1t is con
sldered as almost certain that both of
these officers will protest against act.
ing under the direction of Ger. Car
ter. AT first it was assumed that the
object of Secretary Root in assisting
Gen. Carter to his present duties was
the humiliation and complete elmlna-
tion from army direction of General
Miles, but now it is realized that the
assignment has an even deeper signi-
ficance. BY making this assignment
Secretary Root has established a pre-
cedent which confirms the contentious
of General Corbin that he holds the
senior commission as major general
of the line. Those who controvert
this claim contend that Corbln's com
mission was merely incidental to his
staff position and did not imply the
actual, but rather the ex-officio rank
of major general. 1t is now realized
that the action of the Secretary Of
war not only confirms Corbin's con-
tenton but that it is the first and
most important step in policy which
has for its ultimate purpose the ap-
pointment of Corbin to succeed Miles
as general, commanding the army.
incidentally Roots action places Gen.
Carter in a position where it falls to
him to pass upon the recommendations
of his superior officer, Gen. Miles.
! Ali this is most exasperating to the
older officers of the army who recog.
nize in the act of Secretary Root an
autocratic policy totally at variance
with the discipline and traditions of
the army. Since the gratuitous rep
rimands which the President has seen
fit TO distribute, the officers of the
army are very guarded in their utter
ances, but to their friends they say
that, under Roots administration,
seniority and merit count as nothing
as compared with the untrammeled
will of the Secretary of War and that
hereafter the officer who would secure
promotion must learn "to truckle and
curry favor" with the Secrstary.
| Representative Hay of Virginia
was seen at democratic headquarters
last night. Mr.. Hay deplores the
| lack of candor of which the republi.
cans are guilty in the present cam.
paign. He said that it was absolute
| ~ untrue that the democrats had evel
attacked the army and that the re.
publlcans knew 1t. They had attacked
blameworthy conduct on the part o.
certain army officers and the Presl
dent had, in at least one instance, sc
far approved democratic criticism a.
to retire the offending officer. Anoth
er instance OF the insincerity of the
republicans Mr.. Hay cited, and tha
is the statement that the army in the
Philippines had been reduced to IS,
900 troops. This he stated, is one o
those half truths which are almos
: worse than falsehoods. In addition
to the $4,000 troops which are in the
islands there are between 1900 anC
49, 900 Filipino scouts, who are actu
ally part of the army and who hav'
been trained to a considerable stat,
) of efficiency. This force should b,
added to the 49, 900 American soldier
and then it will be seen that tn
troops In the island number abou
10000 men and this is quite exclusiv
of the native constabulary who mum
[ Der about 1000, making total fight
, ing force of upwards of $1,000 men
= Mr.. Hay declared that the trnsts an
the tariff were the leading issues G
the campaign.
: "The Terrible Talker" is the sol