The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-10
FINE RECORD MADE |FAvoRITIsM IN ARMY
OFFICERS AsToUNDED AT NAMING
 OF AYLEsHIRE.
Major Was Jumped to Quartermaster General Over Heads of Many Men of Higher Rank--suc-
 eeeas Humphrey.

Washington, July 9.--(Special )-The others who outrank those who fre- auently are advanced above their mer- it's has not only been the practice un- der at least four administrations of modern times. but this sort of thing creates a deal of bad feeling among the officers of both services.
 The latest complaint is caused by the appointment of Major James B. Ayle- shire to succeed General Charles HumN phrey as Quartermaster-Geners of the army. In order to place the major in this very responsible position, it was necessary to advance him over the heads of six colonels, nine lieutenant colonals and one major. Among the victims of this favortism was ono Ala bamM man--Lieutenant-Co Colonel William 1T. Miller. who was appointed to the military academy in isss. and who graduated, from West Point in ls72. s - Among other officers from the South ern States who were ignored. and over whom the new Quartermastsr-Genera was jumped. are the followingALieu- tenant Colonel James W. Pope. of Ken lucky; appointed a cadet at West Point l in 1S64 Lieutenant-Colonel Robert R. Stevens. born in Texas: appointed ca dat at West Point from Mississippi in 1873. graduated from the academy in 1877. T1eutenant-Colonel John B. Bell inger. of South Carolina who gradua- | ted from the academy in 1880.
 Gaperal Charles F. Humphrey, the | retiring Quartermaster- General. is only a little over sixty years old. The ro- tiring age is s4 for the army. But he had had forty years of continuous service and this record. entitled him to | be placed on the retired list. General | Humphrey is a wonderfully well pre- | served man. and really does not look to he day over fifty-five. Few men l in either the army or navy. have as fine executive ability as he. Ho was | the leading Quartermaster in Cuba during the ish-Amerlcan war. Ar ter that he served for several years in the Philippines. and was also In China during the Boxer troubles. Within a given period he disbursed for the gov Arnment over $50. 1000, ,000 and in the face of the tact that he had so many sph"r- dinate officers and clerks working un- der him 1t would not have been strange if some of his accounts should havo gotten mixed. But everything was en- tirely straight. and the last cent nc- l counted for. The auditors could not find a flaw in any of his accounts.
 For a. year or more many of the busy bodies" of the army clique have been trying to force the retirement ct General Humphrey. They made life so worrying for him in his position that he finally became disgusted. and got out. Congress appreciated the services of General Humphrey and provided that when he was retired 1t should be with | the rank of MajorGeneral He, there | fore, will draw money enough to keep him from want as long as he lives. However. as General Humphrey is SO full of energy and in the enjoyment of splendid health, he does not propose to l fold his arms and take life quietly. It Is said that after his summer vacation ix over he will engage in some sort of | business. Such men as he will not find 1t dificult to secure profitable em- ployment ,. 51 years of age. He did not go into the ouartermaster- Generals branch of the service until 1895, and his prone tion was a piece of favoritism on the nart of the powers that be as pro | pounced as that of the elevation O. Dr. Presley M. Rixey. of Virginia, to he Surgeon General of the Navy with tba rank of Rear Admiral pr. Rixey was jumped over the heads Of large rnmber of tho naval surgeons.
 Alfred J. Stofer.