The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-01
PRoMOrION nv SELECTION.
Necessity for Ifs SERIOUS Consideration by
Army and Navy OrIeePs.

NH""s Ahu NaNy VttcCEHs
To TEE EDIroR or THE sUN-Sir: Many
articles have been printed regarding the pro-
motion by selection Of officers Of the United
States navy and army. These have appear cd
In various periodicals and service papers.
Most OF them were against promotion by Sc
lection. Recently some able articles In sup
port OF IL have appeared. Undoubtedly
those IN favor Of selection have not felt II
necessary TO advocate a principle which IL
so evidently right. Tit so-called antl-se-
lectlonists do not deny this principle. but
apparently lose sight Of II in their nervous
dread OF the means that may be adopted to
apply IL. .
There can be no argument in regard TO
whether II Ia right and just TO promote the
best officers ahead Of those who are less Eff
Client to perform the duties required Of them
Honest selection stimulates competition and
Is an application Of the fundamental law Of
nature-the survival Of the fttest. The
present system OF promotion in the navy by
seniority does not stimulate compel tion,
the best men do not come TO the top az the
list and Officers are too old when they arrive
In the higher grade& therefore any scheme
OF promotion that removes these defects and
does not at the same time introduce objec-
ttonable features will be an improvement
and should be adopted.
II would seem hat all officers must agree
thus far and all be pure selectionists. The
only ground for discussion or disagreement
Ia whether or not a proper scheme OF promo
tion by selection can be devised to correct the
faults in the present system Of promotion
by seniority. Evidently there will be those
who believe that such a scheme can be de-
vised. and others who do not: and here IL
ground for honest difference OF opinion. It
would seem. how ever. that all naval officers
should be loath to decide so important a
question without careful thought and study.
All must agree that selection properly ap-
piled will improve the personnel of the nav ".
The question Ii then, How can 1t be properly
applied Every officer should devote him
self to the solution Of this problem. Those
who do not believe IL can be solved must adj
vance arguments and evidence stronRer than
i do not believe In, selection, See how IL
most political or personal influence will get
all the promotion" The scheme adopted
must eliminate these evils. The task will
De very easy " these are the only evils to be
There are differences Of opinion whether
selection should be in the higher grades. in
the lower grades or in all the grades. 1t
should be remembered that there are no leglti-
mate duties. ashore or afoat. which naval
not require ohicers Of the very best qualities
II Ii also certain that the inef1ciency OF on
GERS OF the junior grades affects the good of
grades, and the higher the grade the more
pronounced this becomes. The necessary
shore duties require officers Of extended ex-
pertence and OF the highest efficiency. ON
GERS OF the lower grades, other thin gs being
equal. are not capable Of performing these
duties. Experts In all professions and walks
OF life readily detect the early signs that tend
to produce perfection in maturity and do
not wait many years, or until maturity is
reached, before applying the principle of
the best in life.
oficer retired for physical disability or retired
from the higher grades because he is not rs
well qualified as others to advance to the
highest grades. Officers in the lower grades
duties and vet not be qualified 20 advance to
the higher grades. There IA also a great deal
OF such duty that Is essential, yet not Of the
first Importance az regards the battle feet.
officers now In existence II will be necessary
TO select out of the higher grades officers less
efficient than others and to employ these
officers temporarily on shore duty. But at
from the bottom should be applied.
The means Of accomplishing the above
desired results must eliminate personal and
political influence. The selection should be
to those being selected. The moral and physi-
cal qualifications being equal, professional
ability alone should count, The greatest
sideration and the interests of the individual
only considered in so far as they do not con-
hict Herewith.
IL was intended to include in this letter a
promotion In the United States navy. but It
IL not yet fully worked out, and II Is hoped by
publishing this now to induce many In the ser
vice TO take up the subject az once and give
serious consideration. Let US not deny
the. possibility OF n solution Of this problem
without a conscientious effort.
W~AsHINGroN, August 81. MARLBRIT.