The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-14
His Retirement Necessary to
Harmony in Administration
WOULD FOLLOW PRECEDENT
Friend of the President Says General
Miles Was Promoted Over Gen.
eral Brookes on General
Ord's Retirement.

Washington. April 13.-The issues are
fairly joined between the lieutenant
general and the Secretary of War. The
troubles which began long ago, under the,
Cleveland administration, have finally
reached so critical stage that the COM
pulsory retirement of General Miles at an
early date is an open secret and is not
denied at the White House. In explana-
tion of President Roosevelt's position one
of his close friends, who unquestionably
speaks by authority, says:
1.-The question is not a personal one be-
tween General Miles and Secretary Root.
At present Secretary Root has on his
shoulders a heavier burden than any other
member of the administration. No man
less strong could carry it at all; and now,
at the very time when he requires the
most loyal support of every subordinate
who wishes well of the army and the ma
tion he has to spend much of his strength
In meeting the opposition of the COM
manding general. If General Miles is re-
tired it will be simply because that Pres
1dent Roosevelt feels it is necessary on.
highest ethical grounds and that his re-
tention would work lasting injury to the
army as a whole.
Following a Precedent.
"As some of General Miles friends
have said that 1t would be unfair to re-
tire him, it should be said in the first
place that he secured his promotion to
brigadier generalship only through the
similar forced retirement of General Ord,
he himself being jumped over a number
OF his senior officers into the vacancy thus
created; and in the second place that the
only action of the kind taken by Presi-
dent Roosevelt since he has been in office
was in the case of Colonel Noyes who
was compulsorily retired after reaching
the age of 62 on the recommendation of
General Miles. In other words, the gem
eral has himself recommended and profit
ed by the very action which his friends
now fear may he taken at his expense
1f he should go out before General
Brooke is retired General Brooke. who
is General Miles senior, both in service
and in age. and who did gallant and
distinguished work at a volunteer in the
civil war, would undoubtedly be put
In his place as lieutenant general, as 1t
is known that the administration has
been very desirous of recognizing Gem
eral Brooke's long and faithful service
General Brooke during the civil war
rendered equally merltorious service
with General Miles; General Brooke was
the first to obtain a commission and
throughout the civil war he retained his
advantage. ending the war as General
Miles senior. After peace came General
Miles was promoted over General
Brookes head. AS General Brooke will
necessarily hold the position but a brief
period before his retirement for age
General S. NJ. b. Young is likely to sue
coed General Brooke and General Chat
fees promotion to follow two years
hence"
The Mission to Rome.
In n ipi- -tYof OH
ton there has been some amusement over
the talk raised about the so-called mis-
sion to Rome. The facts are that Gov
ernor Taft has impressed very strongly
upon the President and his secretary of
war the question of getting rid of the
friars, which was of vital consequence
to peace III the Philippines and that to
accomplish this 1T was necessary to deal
directly with the head of the CORPORA
tion involved-Rome.
After much consideration it was decid-
ed that Governor Taft should stop at
Rome on his way to the Philippines to
consult with the church authorities and
see If it would not be possible to come
outright 10 some agreement on behalf
of the Philippine government. There
would be nothing of any kind or shape
in the matter which would suggest any
thing in the way of diplomatic relations
1T would be purely business transac-
tion. The government is neither favor
able nor hostile to any religious sect 1t
desires to treat all alike with exact
justice 1t does not wish to do injustice
to the friars by taking away their lands
without compensation. On the other
hand, 1t recognizes that although the
Christian Filipinos are practically all
Roman Catholics. they are nevertheless
a unit in demanding that the friars leave
the islands. Governor Taft better than
any other man could explain this state
of things at Rome. 1t is believed if an
honorable and satisfactory Arrangement
can be reached the result will be most
beneficial to the islands and that prob
ably no other one thing could do as
much good.