Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-20
General Woods Promotion
SAYS the New York Evening Post:

"The Washington Star does not find fault
with our statement of the military objec
tons to the promotion of General Wood. 1t
says. however. that we have wonderful
country and wonderful institutions, and
some men develop with the opportunities
afforded very rapidly 1t then cites the
career of Grover Cleveland. who was nomi-
mated for the presidency In 1894 when
comparatively unknown and untred man,
and asks us to give General Wood a
chance. The cases are not, however, anal
ogous. In a general, a knowledge of his
profession is absolutely essential unless the
men under his command are to have their
lives thrown away. 1t would seem as If no
newspaper could blink this fact In view of
our own civil war That thousands of lives
were suuandered on the northern side by
incompetent political generals is atteSted
by history. Not until the trained soldiers
Grant. Sherman. Sheridan, Meade Thomas
and their fellow-West Pointers came to the
front did the cause of the north progress
steadily. The true parallel lies with the
navy not with civil life. No sane man
would suggest that a surgeon like Wood or
an adventurer like Funston should be made
admiral of the fleet because this is great
country and some men have gone to the
front rapidly. -
The Star believes in education for the sol
der the sailor, and the statesman. 1t has
the highest admiration for the work done at
West Point and Annapolis, and it salutes
the men who have come from those insti-
tutions. But it does not hold that a man
may not disclose genius for very high COM
mand unless he has had the advantages of
early technical training.
The West Pointers did a good deal in the
civil war. but not all. Some very great
services were rendered on both sides by
men who had never worn a uniform until
Sumter was fired on. John A. Logan was
an excellent commander. In less than two
years after young Nelson A Miles had
given up his clerkship in Boston store he
was performing so well in the field that
General Hancock. professional soldier,
sent him word that he was worth his weight
in gold. In a very short time after N. B.
Forrest. who had no education of any kind
to speak of, gave up negro trading for war
he was exhibiting talents of a very high
order as a cavalry leader. The south had
no more successful man in the saddle.
Some of his exploits We're brilliant. The list
of successful volunteer officers is a long
one.
The West Pointers themselves found that
they had a good deal to learn AS a rule
they We're pretty rusty. Grant got off
slowly, and came within an ace of losing
his opportunity. Sherman was not brilliant
at the outset and his enemies tried to per-
suade the country that he was crazy. -
1t is urged in behalf of General Wood that
he met the military and semi military re-
quirements in Cuba successfully, and that
previously he had seen no little of army life
at home here in the west, and had been
commended not as a surgeon but as a SOL
der by Generals Miles and Lawton, under
whom he served in the Geronimo campaign.
He is in the prime of life. and man of su-
perior intellectual equipment. He is at
school this very day, and at the best school
open to q soldier of his years. Is it fairly
assumable that he is not learning anything
about his trade as he goes along? He is not
due as chief of staff as early as the day
after tomorrow. Who shall say that he
will not be fully ready for the Office as soon
as the office is ready for him?