The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-01
COULDN'T WORK HIM GEN. MILES, REPORT
It Is Said That He Favors the Doing
a@. ..--,t-s-+ H. 49,. ~. l. -
Away With the Army
1, ,..-. Canteen... 7
And Opposes "a General Staff
e. ~ s.&el2 Sc sfLg atSoaaas >ais. i.-."
:. 49,. Secretary R't " Pligeonh h! =
: Tx ~r~ the Report. s;f ::
ge.u YORK; Sum s sciaz Service

Ne.u YORK; Sum s. pecia1 Se,avtco,
Chicago. Nov. IA Washington special
to the Chronicle Says ~ \
It Is significant fact which is being
much commented upon by army officers
that the annual report of Lieutenant
General Miles has not yet been made
public, although it was submitted to Sec
rotary Root over a month ago. Secre-
tary Roots object in holding up Miles
reports not known, but it. is limited that
it contains some very strong arguments
against the adoption Of the presidents
plans for "a general staff OF the army;
General Miles opposition to this scheme
has been well known to everybody for
a long time. Last winter he expressed
himself on more than cone coca sions and
formally appeared before the senate COM
mittee on military !: affairs and spoke
against the plan with such good effect
that the measure was killed beyond the
hope Of resurrection, For the reason that
! the lieutenant generals report is believed
| to contain expressions along this same line
| Secretary Root does not wish 1t to ap-
pear.
Technically the secretary Of war has the
right to hold up the, report of the COM
mander- in chief of the army as it is made
! to him for the purpose OF recommending
things that Will tend to the betterment
| Of the army It has always been the
d
| bort to congress. Whether or" not this
/ will be done Is not known, but. the fact
1 that Miles is in the Philippines and. will
! not return for some months gives the
| secretary, of war, ample opportunity tc
| hold up his report without fear Of protest
| on Miles part.
Z Another thing which may have some
| bearing upon the case is that Genera
| Miles disagrees most radically with the
secretary of war in regard to the canteer
question. Miles is opposed to the re-es-
| Establishment Of the post canteen while Sec.
| rotary Root intends to make q strong
recommendation that the anti-canteen law
be repealed SO as. to permit the sale O.
| beer and light wines in post exchanges
General Miles is understood to have made
a strong argument in favor Of continuing
i in force the present law which exclude
II Intoxicating drinks of all kinds from tn
4 soldiers canteens.. He believes that tn
!. enforcement Of that law has tended t.
: promote the efficiency and discipline o
I. the army and it is natural to suppose tina
he should support his views in his re
, port. 4 o.. III. ,,s.. r, . s.:.' =. T. :.
/ 2 The report Of the lieutenant general
always looked forward to with great in
terest by army officers because as tn
, highest military officer Of this governmen
+ it is read and discussed with interest O.
all sides. Officers express fear, however
!, that owing to Mr.. Roots desire to brin
A. about the two important changes in tn
+ laws governing our military establishment
q he will exercise his discretion by suppress
ing the report. Root knows that Mile
= Yields great influence with the legisla
= tors in congress and he believes that wit
the lieutenant general safely out Of tn
country for some months he will be abl
: to induce congress to act favorably upo
= his two pet schemes, specially If the or
: position receives no inspiration from Gen
= 'pral Miles, report. .f''-s 1t..,