Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-26
OLD OFFICERS IGNORED
BITTERNESS CAUSED BY PROMO.
TroNs IN THE ARMY.
Impossible for Veterans to Reach the
Highest Grades Owing to Presi-
Dental Action.

Speaking of the discharge OF the colored
troops by the President. a gentleman thor
oughly familiar with military affairs said
to Star reporter today that this ought to
be good time to call attention again to
another great injustice In army affairs. Said
this gentleman:
1T is "a hopeful sign for the future of
this magnificent young country that the
people raise their voices in earnest protest
against an injustice done to certain of
their number. white or black. in their name
by one who represents them in authority
while the people are expressing them
selves In no uncertain tones through the
medium Of their local papers against the
policy Of Furnishing the innocent negro SOL
oilers and the guilty alike. will they not
consider and give expression to their opin-
ions OF a most grave Injustice that is being
done other worthy individuals of the United
States army?
Army Promotions.
Congress, in framing the bill governing
promotion in the army, left a very danger
Gus opening for abuse by it's silence con-
corning those eligible for the position of
brigadier general. II is safe to say that
Congress intended that the grade should be
open to selection by the President from
those deemed by him and his military ad-
visers to be best qualified, as demonstrated
by service in peace and war. The exigen-
Giles of war and the necessity that the best
men be in the highest places of an army at
80 critical time must have Influenced Con-
gress in leaving open this dangerous loop
hole. That politics and favoritism were
controlling factors In selecting many for this
high grade since the civil war Is evidenced
BY the fact that Henry ]. Hunt A. ].
Smith. John G. Parke, Henry l.. Abbott
@. w. Getty and many other officers dis
tingufshed as corps and @ vision command
ers OF the great war were retired as colo
neis OF the regular service or with lesser
officers were embfttered by the sense OF
injustice and their old age made unhappy
thereby. They complained that another OF
their grade but Of service of unequal merit
was preferred to them.
Complaint of Officers.
''The officers of today complain that some
court favorite or one of great political
influence. is jumped over the heads Of hun
dreds Of brother officers who have had
longer service. ana service more useful to
the country. Capt. Pershing in his wonder
full flight to d star was promoted over 257
captains. 364 majors, 1S1 lieutenant colonels
ITO colonies, a total of 862. officers, who
ranked him. Either the vacancy given to
Brodie. a Rough Rider, or that given to AL
word In the military secretary's depart
ment. would find PerShing a lieutenant
colonel today. most generous prize for
shooting up people a century behind the
times In weapons and military skill.
There was still a later vacancy as
major In the same department and at least
ten carrying the same grade and pay in
the Philippine scouts. all made by the
President. The elevation Of Wood, Grant,
Bell. Funston. Carter, Bliss, Barry. Mills
and Pershing to general rank over the
heads of hundreds of older officers Of
longer and superior service in war and
peace. has brought the army into state
Of decentralization. increasing In degree
with each unjust appointment.
Veterans Hopeless.
1.-The older officers are embittered and
hopeless. for the injection of these young
men into the highest grades forever closes
them to older men, or those of equal years.
Officers who served CALAMITY, in the civil
war. and those whose names are woven
into every chapter of the history Of our
frontier in the stormy days now So easily
forgotten. must crush every throb of am
bition and serve and obey the orders OF
these men who owe their positions to cir
cumstances of favor and Partially, with
out the merit that entities any one of them
to the thousandth part of one grade over
his brother officers.
Have not these hundreds of most deserv-
ing and faithful officers of long and distin-
guished service a grievance as grea. as
that of the colOred soldiers? Have they had
square deal? Could the power of a
despOt be more ruthlessiy wfelded?"