The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-15
Gen. MILES And
The PRESIDENT.
Roosevelt's Course, It Is Said, Has
Made Miles National
Figure.
The People Believe He Has Beer
Prosecuted and This Helps His
Popularity.
Must Be Reckoned With Irrespec.
tive Of the Democratic Pres
idential Nomination.
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service.
Chicago, Aug. 15.-Walter Wellman, in a
Washington special to the Record Herald,
speaking Of General Miles retirement,
predicts that the retired commander will
likely make trouble for the president.
Among other things, Mr.. Wellman says:
That General Miles is to continue to be
a thorn in the flesh OF President Roose-
welt seems certain. Whether or not Cen
eral Miles Is nominated for president or
vice president on the democratic ticket,
he Is pretty sure to be more or less of an
issue in next years national campaign.
No one doubts that General Miles himself
will do all in his power to make trouble
for the president. He would be a good
deal more Of a saint than any one has
credited him with being If he were to fail
to do that.
General Miles has never loved the back
ground; he has never been slow to take
advantage of opportunities to harass his
enemies. Not all Of his fighting has been
done in the field by any means The
exigencies of national campaign will
doubtless afford him many chances to come
to the front. In certain sort of political
campaigning, in giving prominence to
ideas or facts at the moment best cal
culated to annoy his opponents, General
Miles has shown himself to be an adept.
He is far from being a fool, and it is
morally certain that President Roosevelt
has not yet heard the last of him.
Miles VIII Get Even
Tho still technically amenable to dis
cipline, and subject to- court martial, as
retired officer, drawing pay, practically
General Miles is free to do as he likes
and he is sure to enjoy his freedom to
the utmost. Some of the presidents most
competent advisers aud most earnest well
W1shers believe a mistake was made in
retiring General Miles without word of
commendation for his distinguished serv-
! ices to his country. The American people
do not like vindictiveness; they do not like
! narrowness. Irrespective Of General
Miles conduct during the last few years
his alleged INSTRUMENTATION, his pen
chant for trouble making, his indiscreet
| utterances-the fact remains that he. wa $
| fine soldier; that he gave many Of the
| best years Of his life to the service Of his
country; that he was wounded in battle.
and that he rose to be the chief Of the
American army and stood before the
world as a splendid type of the America n
soldier, volunteer and regular
RooseveIt's Course a Mistake.
| Those friends OF the president who
think q mistake was made in retiring him
without: a word Of praise say it would
| have been easy for the president to adopt
| the more generous course He could have
published general orders for retirement
referring to General Miles fine record in
the civil war and in various Indian cam
| pa1gns. 1t would not have been neces-
| sary to say a word about the Spanish
war or any recent occurrences; or to have
| given even a hint of the retiring officers
| unfortunate penchant for quarre1ing with
all his superiors. If this had been done
General Miles would have disappeared
| from public notice with almost startling
| suddenness. little magnanirnity little
generous willingness to bury the quarrels
and give the retiring soldier the benefit
OF his long and distinguished career
would have brought about the end pleas
antly and effectually.
There Is no doubt that General Miles
himself Is better satisfied with the out
come as 1t stands to-day. Thanks tc
President Roosevelt he is still nationa
figure Doubtless nine tenths Of the PEG.
pie believe he has been harsh1y lever
brutally, treated, and their sympathy will
do much more in the way Of giving him
popularity than any Of his achievements
as a. soldier.