The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-06
ARMY REFORM.
Secretary Root Goes Ahead with His
Comprehensive Plans.

Brooklyn Eagle.
Secretary Root is conducting himself in
way not at all in keeping with the tradi-
tons of his office. He actually conceives
that his duties as head of the War Depart
ment include the elaboration of existing
plans and the initiation of new ones. He
believes that he was put i'm place TO do
some real work, to improve the efficiency
OF the army and not to revive the policy
OF absurd prudence and ridiculous economy
which resulted in reducing the land forces
or the Nation almost to the numerical level
of the military establishments maintained
In some of the South American states. In
spite of the cry that all schemes of army
reform entail az unnecessarily heavy ex-
pense, in spite of the allegation that the
proposed enlargement of the headquarters
machinery VIII produce more rolls or red
tape, Mr. Root is quietly proceeding with
comprehensive plan which includes q
new National Guard. the formation of a
transportation and supply division and the
creation of a general staff.
Or these three propositions the first has
already been Endorsed by the Eagle and
by the vast majority of those newspapers
splred movement a blow aimed at the
principles of states rights. In regard to
the second 1t is only necessary to direct
attention TO the lack of harmony existing
during the Spanish war between the de-
partments which Mr. Root now desires to
consolidate into a transportation division
under the control of a chief of supply.
In the quartermaster's subsistence and
pay departments there are at present null
t1plicity of bureaus which cannot work
In harmony during an emergency because
responsibility and authority are divided.
With these under the direction of one man
the danger of confusion will be lessened
and the country will feel safer in the face
of crisis similar to that which we met
in the spring of 1898 The need of a general
staff organized upon the most approved
lines is so apparent that the only won
der is that definite action looking to the
establishment was not undertaken before
this. The departmental heads have all they
can do IN attending to the routine work
which daily demands their care. They
have no time to study the broad prob
lens requiring trained faculties of con-
struction and administration, which in
all European countries are allotted TO the
members of the general staff. Following
the English custom, we put a civilian at
the head of our War Department and eX-
pect him to develop all the technical &C
curacy demanded in the management of
a task for which the highest professional
Skill Is surely needed. We surround him
with men, bureau chiefs and others, who
are nominally supposed TO be his advisers,
but whom we load with work. not exactly
advisory, which requires their complete and
undivided attention. They become more or
less mechanical in their treatment of army
matters and, being bound to routine, are
unable 10 assist the secretary of war in
the settlement of the larger questions
which are periodically submitted to him
for adjustment A general staff will give
to Mr.. Root and his successors this needed
assistance. Let US have a general staff
by all means and soon can get it.