The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-02
PROMOTIONS Nv THE ARMY.
Just Remarks on the Evils or Personal
or / Official FayOritlsm.
From the Outlook Of Aug. 1.


We are not here engaged to defend the rapid
promotion OF Gen, Wood. We neither CON-
mend nor criticise il; We pass no judgment on
II; But the general question on what princi,
quite iegitimate Subject ie ct for public discus
sion. And the rapid promotion OF Gen. WooS
affords. naturally, a text for the consideration
There are four principles on which such pro J
motions can be based favori tism-personaV
or political: seniority in service; record for
tits natural and to come extent Legitimate
that the appointing officer In a great or gant a.
ton, the Commander Chief Of the Army
poration. should appoint to office man who
he knows and likes. Personal acquaintancc
and personal confidence must enter into ap'
potntments and promotions to some extent
But on the whole the less 1t enters the better,
For, open this door and personal fayoritsm -
sure 70 enter in, and political fayoritism is sure
know his motives to be. sure as he may
be Of himself. confident as he may be OF nis
own Judgment. IN general Il may De sa1s YS
recommendations and determine all Question.
Of appointment and promotion regardless OF
his own personal productions.
Seniority in service is q very simple method
OF determining promotions. IL has the anyan-
tage Of being mechanical and sell-e3eoutins
Wherever death or resignation creates va
cancy the man next below In rank. or next ID
age OF the same rank. occupies the vacant
place, and 50 creates another vacancy too
Allied in turn, But the disadvantage OF thls
method Is that it is 500 mechanical and too sell
executing Seniority In service indicates noI!l-
ing except that the senior has had good neat.t
or has taken good care Of It,. or. IN the case o.
be an excellent method to select SAFE suoJecs
for life insurance; II u no method to select sn.
Gent and capable officers for service IN nv
higher ranks, whether for military. ciVh OF
ecclesiastical service. 1t 10 not adopted IN ousi-
ness nor in the Church; II should not be aoopp
ed In the army. Favoritism gives us worm
M an ~ eySu
Fsvoritism gave us In the Civil war Gen BUY,
ler;, seniority In service gave W Scott si nn
Halleck. Neither method would ever nav have
found for us a Sheridan, q Sherman, or aIiraht
Seniority in service may justly be depended on
In the gradual elevation OF men IN t1e LOVE- T.,
Offices. where courage. order and ndei y, can w
never be depended on TO select men TO oonduSy,
Santiago campaign, to bring order out o,
confusion In the Philippines Or Porto Kico'
protect our border from Indian warfare e. W
maintain the best discipline and order N arg
bodies OF men. or even the best condItIohA III
our ssa-ooasr Notifications ..,. L..
For these purposes promotion an Oulu u"
made as reward for past service. or because because
the appointing power hnds in the past record IS3
Or the apRoiates reason 70 believe tna' ss T
demanded Promotion as reward Tor merls
incites every man to do his best In MS pTesen1
post promotion as an opportunity 10 10 nv ~
needed service In new position puts the Ap
pointing olticer on his mettle To MAKE the Oesp
posi- ole selection for that purpose IL VAS NV
application Of these two principles that mar e
the career oil Napoleon Tho Great, anu g~'u
him body of military supporters which w.
army before had ever seen; II was the appn,
cation OF the same principle that IN less ,L'A,,
three years time promoted Grant from
Colonel TO the pracgiGal commanuei-'h--4e
OF the forces in the field.
10 state these principles llustrauVryi Hs.
camp wDere there are four regiments II p e
comes necessary 10 select a Colonei from '"V
Captains. Favoritism will give II 10 ''' n .s"
whom the President happens 10 kno" ~ NI VIM
Ia Va
his notice by some influential friend mo H0e S
know him Seniority in service MN SINr ~"
sd S S 20 future work S VIII give Il 70 Ur
Captain whose record shows the pes lr'n~n
and most orderly company. the one MA , wa
greatest enthusiasts Tor is Captain and tor no
service. Applied in a counting hoN'' In,ot'y
itism Will give the position OF supcrh' IN,
OF department to the son or nephew ~ "'Ii
member OF the. firm, seniority IN ser al,' 20 n'
oldest clerk. reward oil merit an u "eNS ;o,
service 10 the man whose recor' ','D" Maxim
greatest adaptabllity 10 the new "v'A "''"
will be demanded OF him. 80. Ar.
10 apply these principles TO FIra ,,cr
Eanizaton like the army Is not a sNrr . no I'M,
method adopted by the present Ad"lt.TW.
ton TO carry them out. 1t Is admira"H ia
to Its purpose: careful record Is h'Il "a , "a,
work of AL offlcers-tneir oppOrtuniu'-, '.''
Successes, tneI failures - sIsI'n' ~, ,.,,
references Is arranged by winch th' ~ n H.,
OF War can at any time turn not ol"l i" 'o,,.
record OF any officer. but can also lnt"' ,''t
parison OF the service IN the same d'Par M
rendered by different officers, can, !o c sI
ample, have put before hun the retofus, ~
notable engineering efforts admIhlsUan,,
records, scouting adventures, ana 80 a.,
Judge, 10 so far as such records anora . PSI Sssi
FOR such Judgment, who In the army " KIN
fitted for any new piece OF kindred Work NN'''
needs TO be done. - ar
II ali promotions and appointments IN o."
army are made in accordance with thE n';,i.
cal. Ia bnnlsned. and, seniority in office u w.
garded only as n secondary conslderatlos 49,,
ought in time to have All army In lts onao 90
second TO none In the worid, a. ~ ID ~"
ond 10 none In 10 rank and de