The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-08-14
RESIDENTS SNUB
| TO GENERAL MILES
pre Up Letter of Commenda-
\ ton Written by Secretary
4 of War Root.
|ouNG's LITTLE INSULT
ppeared at Miles Office in Uniform
sof Lieutenant-G General Before His
Predecessor Had Stepped
Down and Out.

%01 HlSukSNdnS. S0NSTdl 6oTOT0 TIL y.
Predecessor Had Stepped
Down and Out.
washington, Aug. lit has never
Zen doubted by those familiar with the
lets that Secretary Root has always
fad the greatest admiration for General
Tiles as a soldier and had matters been
Sft in Mr.. Roots hands the general
loud have retired with flying colors
hstead of with an unprecedented
hub.
Mr.. Root wanted General Miles to
lave the honor Of being the last COM
handing general Of the army, as con-
ress intended, and a week ago issued
n order which clearly indicated that
he command was to be discontinued.
II the same time he prepared a fare
we'll letter to General Miles which was
De the most laudatory type. Without
keferring to the unpleasantness Of re-
tent years, Mr.. Root complimented
General Miles warmly as an officer
md a great commander, praised his
patriotic deeds and commented on the
Example he had get for every soldier
Ind the army in general.
Roosevelt Destroys Letter.
u
Mr.. Root took the matter to Oyster
May and submitted it to the president.
faMr. Roosevelt tore up the letter n
that a retirement letter of the
[Goldest and most formal style be is
o&ued and that General Young be APP
Epointed to the command Of the army
for six days, so tina General Miles
twould be deprived of the honor which
aeongress intended him to have.
HI In the past it has been the custom Of
The president of the United States him
[HBelf to issue an order announcing the
RETIREMENT Of the commanding general
EDf the army and at the same time
Ecalling attention to his honorable SER
EEvice, etc. President Cleveland issued
Esuch an order when Lieutenant General
@Schofield, Miles predecessor "A COM
1anand, retired in 1895. The same thing
Twas done on other similar occasions.
II Everybody in Washington was dis
#cussing the matter II on all sides it
twas agreed that the president had gone
&out of his way to administer a part
Eing snub to General Miles. People in
washington have known that the presi-
#dent hated Miles, but it was not be-
&lieved that the chief executive would
#take occasion to show it SO plainly.
@Miles' friends characterize the matter
Eas a piece. Of despicable
EMiles himself has nothing to say about
BIT. He has been handled so roughly that
Enothing coming from his superiors Is a
surprise to him. He naturally feels
Khurt, but has adopted the plan Of ignor-
ing the whole incident.
Young Insults Miles.
Another incident which was most
n humiliating to General Miles occurred
Fl at the war department this morning
q during the reception by the retiring
b commanding general Of his brother
b officers, who desired to bid him goodby.
n General Miles himself wore an undress
+ uniform, as usual in his office, but when
4 the reception began at 1880 and the
4 army officers came into his office Cen
q eral Young was at their head, arrayed
8 In the complete regalia of a lieutenant
4 general, although he did not become
h a lieutenant general until noon today.
8 Young vas accompanied by Adjutant
General Corbin, who is the chief lieu
enant of the president in the persecu-
: ton Of General Miles. General Miles
Z was astonished and angered at seeing
4 Young's uniform, but he said nothing.
4 The affair was the cause Of much talk.
Everybody present noticed the affront
4 to the retiring commander and express
Z sions of disapproval were heard on
4 every side. The general opinion is that
4 1t was an insult without excuse, par
! ticularly as Miles would have been out
n u llIt way vi III Sl1Cll1lCo III a olho
J while. 1t is pointed out hat General
4 Young had no legal right to wear a
lieutenant generals uniform until after
Z Miles retirement, as such action prac-
d tically meant that there were two lieu.
4 tenant generals. /.
An Ovation.
But if there was nothing illegal about
i the proceeding in view of the fact tina
i Young had taken the oath Of Office as
Il commanding general of the army abou'
i 10 o'clock (although nobody knew WHY
1 he should do so, inasmuch as the army
had n commanding generaD, the ap'
pearance Of Young in the garb he wore
Is regarded as a fragrant offense
against good taste and common polite
ness.
Given an Ovation.
The humiliation to which Genera
Miles was subjected by his superior:
and successor was atoned for in par
by the manifest regret Of army officers
generally who attended the reception
at losing their old commander. Gen.
eral Miles received an ovation lasting
over an hour. Every officer on duty II
the war department and many from
Fort Meyer, Washington barracks ant
other nearby military posts, from gen
erals down to lieutenants, filed int
General Miles office, shook him warm
ly by the hand and wished him god
speed. Many Of the older officers hat
served in the civil war with the retir
Ing general, as well as in perilous In
dian warfare, when Miles was the hes
tighter of the red men on the frontier
The lieutenant general thanked then
all for their good wishes. Many time
his voice broke with emotion as SOM
one of his Subordinates babe him good
by.
General Miles will leave here tomor
row to attend the Grand Army encamp
ment at San Francisco. He will reacl
Chicago Monday. The general says h
Will not be a candidate for commando
OF the G. A. r., although he has re
ceived plenty of assurance of support
tie has declared himself in favor o
General John c.. Black of Chicago TO
the nnSitiOn and will hiring all his in