The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-08-14
GENERAL MILES
Is IN SALT LAKE
Distinguished 0ficsr Met BY
Delegation From Fort Douglas.
FAV0RS BLACK TO COMMAND
DECLARES THERE is DANGER IN
HOLDING THE PHILIPPINES.
FAVoRS BLACK TO COMMAND
LIEUTENANT General Nelson A.

LIEUTENANT General Nelson A.
Miles, until last Saturday COM
handing general Of the army of
the United States. arrived in Salt Lake
over the Rio Gran1e shortly before
clock this morning. He was met at
the train by a delegation of officers
from Fort Douglas and driven directly
10 the post, where he viii be enter
tanned today
In General Miles party are General
Nathan Church. Ithaca, Mich: Major
John d. Black, Valley city. 5. d: Cen
eraI John $. McEwen, Albany, n. Y;
Major Alexander Sweeney, Steuben-
vile, o.; General G. w. Baird, L. ). A.,
Washington, ID. c.; Lieutenant Colonel
NJ. p. Maus, L. S. A.. and Colonel n.
II. Adams of New York City. all for
mer members Of General Miles staff
during and since the civil war.
After breaking the trip by a brief
rest here. the party viii proceed to San
Francisco to attend the national en-
Compliment of thy G. a. r.
Miles Is For Black.
General John G. Black Of Illinois, a
leading candidate FOR cOmmander-in-
chief of the Grand Army, also arrived
yesterday. putting up at the Knutsford.
General Miles announced that he would
support General Black for the position.
Il am not a candidate for the office
of commander-in-chief of the Grand
Army OF the Republic" said General
Miles. con the contrary. I shall second
the nomination of General John G.
Black. General Black is a fine repre-
sentative OF the old soldiers and is en-
titled to the honor. The Grand Army
was created for the common soldier and
not for the professional. At amy rate.
/ have had honor enough i'm the mill
tary line and have no ambition further
in that direction
THE Grand Army OF the Republic is
very dear TO me. I was active in its or
ganzauon, assisting General John a.
Logan. In 1868, when I was i'm COM
mand OF a district in South Carolina.
during the reconstruction days. 1 or
ganized Barbara Freitche post and
T'ds for long time one Of the COM
lades OF that post. / have since had
my membership transferred to La
fayette post of the New York depart
ment. and there it now is. You must
not think that ] do not appreciate the
distinction of being commander-in-
chief, for I do. I think it is the highest
honor that can come TO an old soldier.
Menace in Philippines.
MY recent trip TO the philippines
convinced me that il is a mistake to
hold on 10 the islands Conditions there
are not such as are favorable to Amer
lean colonization. The islands are
uensely populated. and the population
is cOngested 10 a degree that is hard
for the Americans not familiar with tn.
situation to understand. Aside from
the expense and Inconvenience of the
situation. the matter involves a policy
that is, l think, against our best inter
ests. We are forced into a position
alongside of Russia at point where
we would be stronger If we had the
whole Pacific ocean between us. Rus
STA is certain to dominate the Asiatic
coast of the Pacific. just as we dom
mate the American coast In event of
war growing out of the complications
due to Russia and other European ma
neuvers III China and Japan, our posi-
tion IN the Philippines forces US to take
part. Russia is friendly to the United
States and is anxious 20 remain Oh
friendly terms with us. We have Il
chance TO build up a fine trade with
Russia. and it IS unwise to jeOpardize
this commerce for the sake of what
the Philippine archipelago viii bring
10 US. The possession of the islands
is not likely TO bring with it any posi-
tive advantage to the United States and
they will always be a menace 10 peace
and a source Of expenditure even with
peace assured.
China is the bone Of contention just
now, and the United States is likely TO
be drawn into the war that seems ce~-
tain TO grow from the present situa-
ton"