The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-13
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WASHINGTON, d. e, April 1e.-Since
the appearance OF observation-disclosures
Nelson a Miles before the Senate Com
mittee on Military Affairs wien Inc nSau
OF the army criticised SO severely Seclc-
,atv Roots bill providing for the reor-
sauization of the amy end the ecrea1loli
of a general Ss.affs "a good deal OF attcn-
tion has been attracted to the Secretary
If Mar a course, tile tight pet"ccu
comma n6in;s general OF the arm! a,iu
ihe Secretary Of War is as oiu as tie
Two Offices themselves, but therc is q
little more under the surface VI ti.iS
+. ,resent disturbance than is usualiS tne
case when a row is on petWceli.hi M
.,,nben.s Of the two offices mentioned.
briefly speakinc. the perennial. never
ending incompatibility between the COM
mandinE general Of the army ana ,he
Secretary of Mar is due TO me la'e
That in the nature of thlrss lhey ca''-
not. in the performance OF their du'ics.
6aii TO clash. The statute on me SUI
iect apparently intends To make me 30
,.tary of War the implement OF 1ha
prosiIent. as commander chief. in all
matters pertaining 10 the business part
the army and ,he commanding general
his ;,.rie,nent in all matters military.
The Supreme Court, however, was gwen
IN opportunity TO pass uron LUIS loes
1ior " lien, during the presidency or Grai't.
Sherman, who vas then the general con-
,nandinE. locked horns with Secretary "l
Mar Eelknap over some matter feia'nis
Ia their duties.
rho tpaoision of the Supreme Court
pas in effect that the action OF the
Secretary of War was the action of the
t,rcsident, since the President appoints
him especially to act as lis representa-
tive I'll all matters pertaining To The army
and that therefore the general IN COM
mand was under the authority of the
Secretary Of Nar.
THIS decision simply placed the general
in command in Il most hopeless position.
In 1ir1e OF war he takes his orders from
The President, and in time of peace from
the Secretary Of War. All lie can do is
10 look as pretty as possible, and DO The
best he can to make something out OF his
position. He rides at the head OF all
Che PROFESSIONS, wears the most COR
scous uniform and creates on parade
nc biggest stir, ana hears the title OF the
liehcs, officer Of the 1.-The, but when il
comes to doing anything, there arc two
supericrs from whom he must take orders.
CUT GORDI1lN KNOT.
Il necessarily follows that in his efforts
10 keep ZIP his dignity and his position
tha general in command frequently
clashes with the Secretary of War, and
II remained for Secretary Root to solve
bill providing for the elimination Of the
Office OF general in command and the
creation Of a chief OF staff IN place Of 1t
In this particular instance this viii mean
the elevation Of .AdJutant-Gencrai Goroln
Miles chief enemy. to the position OF
Chief of staff. SHOULD that ofiico be ere
at,d By Congress, and this accounts l.!
i,art Tor the strong opposition Genera,
Miles has shown to Secretary Roots pc,
measure On the face of it II does moi
hurt Miles, because he is to hold mis- posi-
iiol: iintf retirement, hut 1t is we'll known
that his retirement * matter OF only
Il short ti1ae-tEe President TO be th'
judee cr the time. Even il Miles hac
,,ct gone before the Senate Conn,ittes
end criticised the bill lie would have beer
promptly retired anyhow as soon as th'
bin passed.
But in going before that committee o.
Military Affairs Of the Senate ane point
Zig out TO its members the fact tha'
Root, S cllief aim in that bill was Tx
Capitalization OK power in the hands o.
the President he struck the keynote. no
only OF this particular bill. but in rht
minds OF many, the keynote OF Emu
Roots policy for all time.
When Roosevelt first came to the pres
,dcncS those VINO We're conrersant Will
pebble affairs at once made two prophe
cies concerning the Cabinet officers lei
AZ n heritage by President Mckinley
first. that Roosevelt would gradually
thin them out until he was snrrcncde;
iy Cabinet OF his own choosing. ant
second that Eiihu Root would be tn,
cliiey adviser of Theodore Roosevelt. 5.
lar as we have gone both these predic
ions have come trsie. Two members q
the Cabinet are gone already and on
more. Secretary Long. has set tho da.'
for his departure
Root has most certainly been Roose
vets closest and most intimate conf.
dart and counssllor from the first. Mex
- him in proximity to Roosevel, stand