The National tribune., 1904-07-07

rule"
Word has gone forth that there are to
be no more ''plums' in Army details
newly-established Military Secretarys De
partment. must be made from the Army
roll. This is the decision of the Judge
Advocat General of the Army, and is law
This will be a sore disappointment to those
military society men who have. year in and
year out. secured details to duties here in
Washington. where they are greatly needed
in society, and where their brilliant uni
forms, if not brilliant brains, make them
most desirable acquisitions.
1t has also another phase. Gen. Davis
has held that vacancies caused by the ex-
piration of detail tours on duty in this
Department can not be filled by permanent
appointments. but must again be filled by
the detail of officers of the line for tours
of four years staff service. This opinion
is of the utmost interest to officers of the
Army. The matter arose through the re-
cent appointment of Capt Barber. of the
line. to the original vacancy in the grade
of Major created in the Military Secre-
tary's Department by the act establishing
that Department.
Maj. Barber, it is understood, is about
to be retired because Of physical disability
| incident to the service. The vacancy in
the grade of Major caused by his retire
ment can be filled by permanent appoint
ment by the President. according to the
Interpretation of the law. But Lieut.. Col.
Sharpe, q line officer detailed to the Mill
tary Secretary's Department, will leave
that Department in few weeks because
of expiration of his four years tour of
duty.
| Gen. Davis holds that Maj Barber can
not be promoted to that vacancy before
his retirement, and that it must be filled
| by the detail of another officer for four
years service. Only the retirement Of Off
rers holding permanent commissions in the
| Military Secretary's Department can cause
vacancies to which other officers of lower
rank holding permanent commissions can
be promoted.
Attorney General Knox, Secretary of
Commerce and Labor Cortelyou. and Secre-
tary of the Navy Moody. all attended last
weeks Cabinet meeting for the last time
in their present capacity, and Secretaries
Knox and Cortelyou for good Secretary
Moody will meet with the Cabinet the next
time as AttorneyGeneral, hence is two
notches higher up so far as Presidential
succession goes. AS Secretary of the Navy.
he stood sixth and now he stands fourth.
There will be no Mrs. Attorney General
in the receiving line at White House func
tions after this, for Secretary Moody is
that lOnesomest of all creatures, an old
bachelor.
Attorney General Knox leaves the Cab
met to enter the Senate. Secretary Cortel-
you leaves the Cabinet TO become the Pres
ident's trusted lieutenant as Chairman of
| the Republican National Committee. AT
Fridays Cabinet meeting Mr.. Paul Morton
took the oath as Secretary of the Navy.
and Mr.. Victor Metcalf became Secretary
of Commerce and Labor.
Mr.. Morton was not enamored Of Wash
ington life when his father was Secretary
| of Agriculture under Cleveland, and spent
very little time here Being Western
man, many people are wondering il he has
gained his knowledge of Naval affairs by
study of the billowy prairies and prairie
"schooners."
! Secretary Cortelyou will open National
Republican Headquarters at the Arlington,
in Washington, early in July. Campo ign
headquarters will be opened in New York
and Chicago about Aug. l. 1t is not
thought, however. that active campa gn
work will open much before Sept. !.
| A young Washington lady, whose father
was in the rebel army, 'has a notion" TO
put on mourning for Dan Emmett. she
says. "He was the author of our National
air. Dixie, don't you know she said
artlessly. "and l really think that the
daughters of the Confederacy ought to erect
a monument TO his memory" Now, isn't
that funny? Poor old Dan Emmett, who.
in his 40 years of activity as a NEGRO"
minstrel, made millions of people laugh at
his antics, and who was author of the dog
i gerel named Dixie" would probably laugh
himself at the suggestion that Dixie" was
ever intended for anything but laugh
maker.
1t was written hurriedly one afternoon
| back i'm 1858 or 9, and was a take-off on
a man named Dixie who lived on Long
Island. 1t had no reference whatever to
the South, and Emmett said so over and
over again, but you can't talk loud enough
or fast enough to make Southern people
believe it. They really and truly accepted
the tune. which isn't half bad, and the
their National air." Well, they made the
plantation darkies dance to the crack of
the whip, which was a far worse tune, and
if they accept the sense and sentiment of
Dixie" as Dan Emmett wrote and sang
it on the negro-minstrel stage, why, the
young Washington woman is right the
Daughters of the COnfederany really ought
to erect a monument to the author.
| Blaine W. Taylor. Chief Clerk of the
Post Office Department. is going to resign
and go back to his home in Elkins, w. Va.
and reenter the practise of law. It is said
that there has been more or less friction
between Mr.. Bristow, Fourth Assistan mt
Postmaster-General, and Mr.. Taylor ever
since the Post Office investigations began.
Mr.. Taylor has not liked the methods taken
and has not hesitated to say SO. Taylor Is
a Democrat. and has been in the Post
Office Department for 10 years. There are
Those who say that Mr.. Taylor will be q
valuable adjunct to the Democratic cam.
paign, and that he will have a freer hand
out of Office than he would if hamperel
by remaining in Office. people will talk
you know"
Another resignation which il the out
growth of friction in the Post Office trials
is that of Assistant United States Attorney
Hugh T. Taggart. Mr.. Taggart has been
connected with this Office for 25 years
The friction which has resulted in Mr. Tag.
gart's resignation was caused by the Tyner
J trial. 1t will be remembered that Judge
! Tyner was very severely criticized and con.
) demned in high quarters. and when he came
to trial was triumphantly acquitted of al,
the charges against him.