Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-06

war than soldier Of forty years experience
is one Of those enigmas in political economy.
Root would have perhaps resented being
called down by Judge on the bench who
in private life knew nothing of law This
hypothesis Is of course absurd, but 1t would
be no more ridiculous for preacher to pose
as Judge than to have a lawyer act as an
authority on war
The Civil Service compels the appoint
nieut of men knowing something of the po-
sition they seek Their selection depends
upon their examination per centage
Whereas the Civil Service quibbles over
efficiency in minor Offices the spectacle is
furnished US of corporation lawyer as
Secretary Of War, dialect poet as Secretary
of State, another corporation mercury as
Attorney General and so on
II cannot be argued that the present Cab
met is chosen with an eye to their htness
or knowledge of the bureau over which
they rule.
This being the case, what does special
knowledge count for when a question of
political expediency arises2
This brings us to the point. Miles under
stands what is best from a soldiers stand.
point, but he ruus foul of plan of politi.
cal expediency ergo he is wrong and Root
is right.
Root has this to say in reply to Miles FIRST
letter:
There have been exceedingly full, ex.
tended and long g-coutinued consultation and
counsel between the Government of the
United States and the leaders of opinion
among the iusuTectionary FilipiuOs, re-
sultiug in full understanding and most
friendly feeling between by far the greater
part of the Filipino people aud ourselves,
and participation by many members Of
the AguinaldO government in the civil
government under American sovereignty.
| append hereto list of tweuty-three
officers of the iusurrectionary government
who now hold positions of trust under our
Government, Aguinaldo himself has taken
the position OF earnestly urging his coun-
trymen to accept our sovereignty, and most
OF them have already followed his advice.
This sounds very nice. Read the follow
ing and notice the astonishing absence Of
logic in our legal friends argument:
On the 18th Of July, 1900, General Miles
applied to be sent 10 the Phiippin and to
China IN his official capacity Az that time
General Macarthur had reported that not
single additional regiment could be spared
from the Philippines without putting our
interests there in jeopardy and had shown
the reasons and the gravity of the situation
there IN dispatches which had passed
through General Miles Office. In the face
OF these dispatches General Miles accom-
panied his application by a recommeuda-
lion that 5000 troops be withdrawn from
the philippines and sent to China. The
withdrawal Of 5000 troops from the
philippines would have made necessary
the practical Abandonment of a large part Of
the country and the restoration of iusurgeut
control therein.
Roots final reply to Miles second letter.
In one place, according to Root, we are
ontri eudly terms with by far the greater
part of the Filipino people" and in the
above quoted extract of his second letter to
Miles it appears that 1t was inadvisable to
take $1,000 troops from the Philippines, be-
cause it would jeopardize our interests.
This was in 1900 that Miles requested the
troops for China Even so, it seems that in
less than two years the War Department
has discovered what the correspondents in
the Philippines have not, that we are now
on friendly terms with by far the greater
part Of the Filipino people"
Hear Root again and note the trick of the
corporation lawyer in assuming the false
premise that Miles, in replying to Roots
letter containing Roosevelts disapproval of
viewing the Presidents action
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINCToN, March Is, 1902
Several weeks after the final disposition
of the within application by the action of
the President on the 9th of March, and
after the introduction of a resolution in
Congress calling for the papers, the lieu
tenant general attached to them a statement
dated March q, 1902, with the apparent
~ A.
was wrong. Without commenting upon
the propriety of a military officer under
taking TO review the action of the President,
again submit the paper for such reconsid-
Grafton as the President may think ad-
visable, with the following remarks:
Miles is not referring to the President in
any way whatsoever, but to his immediate
superior, Root, whose letter was 50 lacking
IN logic and so odorous of FISH that he, as a
gentleman, could do no less than reply
Perhaps in Roots letter Miles also saw the
omiuous shadow of cats paw and the out
line of bespectacled rough rider holding
It with grip Of steel--while he proceeded
to slap him in the face.
The extract quoted is mere quibbliug and
shyster lawyer juggling of false premises.
Read the Endorsement of the Commander
in-chief Of the Army to an insulting letter
written TO the Commanding General by the
Secretary Of War. This letter was written
in response to an appeal by General Miles
that the Secretary understand him and
place higher construction on his preceding
communication
WHITE House, March p, 1902
The memorandum of the Secretary Of
War is approved as a whole and as to every
part. Had there been any doubt before as
TO the wisdom Of denying General Miles
request, these papers would remove such
doubt THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Imagine if you can the scene in Parlia.
ment after Edward VII had written this in
a letter to Wolsey. This is the man who,
as an insignificant colonel, roasted" Presis
dent Mckinley and wrote round robins
This is the man who scorned to believe
Mckinley knew ought of war. yet became
a candidate with him on the same ticket
Ever since he was on the Civil Service
Commission Roosevelt has assumed powers
his position never provided him with.
Roosevelt's vanity is the keynote to his
character and disposition. From psyche
logical standpoint It is plain that General
Miles position in history is a matter Of
irritation TO his (ROosevelts) vanity. He