The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-08-14
OUi, WASHINGTON LETTER.

w AShl-N0 oA>, ~. O.3 "A oSNo' Ao'-'
MR. EDITOR senator German return
ed from Europe last week, and if the Sena-
tor has any presidential aspirations, he
must have been much gratiffed at the
situation as he found it in this country.
When interviewed by the host of news
papermen who awaited his coming to
Washin gton the Senator was almost as
noncommittal as usual. He appeared to
be in excellent health, and the rudy COM
plexion gained at sea gave him particu-
larly hale and hearty appearance. With
his usual affability the Senator received
the representatives of the press, but man
aged to dodge all leading questions with
the adroitness for which he is famous.
He declared that it was to early to talk of
candidates but added that the fate of the
democratic party was too important mat
ter to permit of personal considerations.
The next convention must select the man
capable of leading the party to victory
and adopt platform with but single
purpose, success He defined the issues
DIS Gdl Ill lCiO1 CCOuCiIy Ill POoliC 'tu-
ministration and honesty in public office,
although he added that it was impossible
to foretell what another session Of Con-
gress would bring forth. Senator Cor
man was told that Judge Parker has
made trip south and had proved disap-
pointment to the Georgians, at least, in
that he had talked law to them rather
than politics, but the Senator only smiled
and said it was too early to discuss men,
the right man would appear at the proper
time
Washington politicians are taking con-
siderable interest in the Ohio situation
where Tom johnson, mayor Of Cleveland,
has announced that he will be candidate
for governor if the party desires. 1t is
generally believed that Mr.. Johnson's
chief object is the defeat of Senator
Hanna is regarded by eastern democrats
as an end devoutly to be hoped for as it
would result in sadly demoralizing the
republicans and would pave the way to
democratic victory, removing the head
of most undesirable element from natio-
nal politics. 1t is generally appreciated
in Washin gton that most of the corrup-
ton in the Postoffice Department was
due to the Hanna style of politics, he
having, as has been already told in these
letters, saddled Perry Heath, when the lat
ter was first assistant postmaster General
with several thousand political pledges,
made to accomplish his own election to
the Senate and that of the republican
candidate for President.
On Saturday last, General Nelson A.
Miles, having reached the age limit, Ga
years, retired from his position of "gen-
eral commanding the army" and General
Samuel B. M. Young was appointed to
succeed him. This appointment is regard
ed by General Miles friends as marked
evidence of the vindictiveness of Secre-
tary of War Root and the antipathy in
which General Miles was held by the
President It was the intention of Con-
gress to confer on Miles the honor of be-
ing the last officer to fill this place, the
new staff law, which goes into effect
August Is, abolishing the position. Gen
eral Young is absent from Washin gton
and will not return until the 18th, and no
harm would have been done by leaving
General Miles former position vacant
until the new law went into effect but the
discrepancy of dates gave Secretary Root
an opportunity to rob the retiring Gen
eral of this slight honor and he promptly
availed himself of it.
1t is regarded as somewhat remarkable
that Secretary Root should have been the
designer of the general staff law which, it
must be admitted, corrects the defects in
the military system which made General
Miles position almost untenable, but
which also will have the effect Of rob-
bling the Secretary of War of all oppor-
tunity of making a great name for him
self, in the future. Under the existing
law the Secretary of War and the ten
heads of staff bureaus have had ali power
in the management Of army affairs and
the position of general commanding
was an honor without proportionate power
Under the new law, the ranking general
will be the chief of staff made up Of
these bureau heads and the staff will be
almost supreme, so that the powers of
the Secretary of War will be materially
curtailed. One of the virtues of the new
law rests in the fact that in the future no
adjutant general can, by Systematically
seeking the favor of the Secretary of
War aud Of the politicians, secure the
nordnate power and promotion which
has been acquired by Adjutant General
Corbin Another benefit will result from
the direction of the army by experienced
officers, instead of by civilian
secretary Of war appointed, usually, for
political reasons aud largely influenced
by sycophantic subordinates. Secretary
Root will be accorded great credit by
historians for his organization and pro-
motion of the general staff, but he has
burned the bridges behind him and it is
another great secretary Of war like
Stanton or Root In future, that posi-
ton will be decidedly analogous to that
of the general commanding" from which
General Miles rctires. 1t is also unlikely
that under the new law such men as Con
eral Leonard Wood will be able to gain
L., Of