The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
BY EX-ATTACHE.


On board the British torpedo school ship
Vernon at Portsmouth there Is cabin
devoted to what are technically known
as toys" These consist OF various work
Ing models and ingenious contrivances Of
one kind and another. Among the latter
Is an electrical apparatus. by means of
which words written at an instrument
are reproduced on a similar instrument
at the other end Of the vessel Many dis
tinguished visitors have been invited to
make trial OF the invention, and there
is on show a book which records their
Enthusiastically brief sentence, followed
by the autograph Of the person concerned.
Among the most noteworthy of these is
the following phrase:
"Favoritism is the secret Of efficiency"
The signature below Is that of Sir John
Fisher, whose rank in the navy OF ad-
miral Of the feet corresponds with that
Of field marshal IN the army. and who as
first lord Of the admiralty is. 10 ali in
tents and purposes the executive chief
of the maritime forces Of the British
empire, as well as the man more than
any other responsible for the personnel of
/
Sir Jackie" Fisher who determines pro-
motions and the assignment Of COM
mands, from those OF torpedo boats 10
those Of great fleets Of battle ships
Word Is Unpopular.
There are few words In the English
language that CRATE on the ear more un-
pleasantly than that OF 'favoritism." II
is held to imply injustice. since, as ex-
plained by the Century Dictionary, it
consists in "the disposition to favor one
person or family. or one class Of men, to
the neglect Of others having equal
claims" And the person who derives
advantage from such favoritlsm is usu-
ally held 70 have acquired dominant in
fluence over a superior by unworthy
means FOR selfish purposes" That this
should be the construction placed upon
favorltism is not surprising when we re-
call the unsavory role which the favorites
Of monarchs have played in the annals of
the world. Exciting the jealousy as well
as the anger. Of the people by the misuse
OF the power derived from the partiality
OF the anointed Of the Lord. they have
naturally been held up IN all ages 20 exc
Grafton. not alone by the historian. but
likewise by the poet, by the playwright.
and by the artist. IN short, favoritism
has always been regarded as one Of the
most grave and dangerous faults that
can be laid at the door OF any one in
authority.
Surprise at First.
Yet here we find a man who is virtually
the ranking officer Of the British fleet.
the principal and most trusted naval ad-
wiser OF his King and OF his government
in brief the admiral TO whom England
looks above all others 20 maintain her
maritime defenses at the topnotch Of an
efficiency superior 20 that of any other
two great powers of the world-advocat-
ing favoritism as a means Of efficiency.
and actually setting II down in black
and white over his signature as one Of
the maxims by which he IS guided in the
performance Of his duty. II is startling
at first sight. And yet on mature con-
sideration II Is a maxim which VIII appeal
10 all those who. like Sir John Fisher, are
called upon 20 determine upon the fitness
of men for certain uuties and comInis-
sIons. and who realize that upon that
choice may depend the welfare OF the
service-nay. possibly the safety of the
nation.
President Roosevelt. here IN the United
States King Edward and his naval and
military advisers such as Sir Jackie
flasher and Gen. Sir John French, EN-
peror William, and the all-powerful pre-
mier Of France Georges Clemenceau, and
even the Emperor Of Austria and his
heir presumptive. Archduke Francis Fer
dinand. have all laid themselves open TO
charges OF favcritism by adopting the
rule advocated by Sir John Fisher in the
selection Of the commanding officers Of
their respective armies and navies. Sen
iOrity. while Il generally entails the eX-
perience OF years. does not necessarily
imply efficiency.
why IL Aids Service.
Very often an officer at the head OF the
list may be lamentably inferior to his
juniors in energy. in tact, in judgment.
and In the knowledge Of the newest de-
velopments of the science Of war. lie
may be suffering from temperamental de-
fects. such as those recently ascribed by
the War Department at Washington 10
Col. Stewart II is in the interests Of
the service. and I'm the interests Of the
naticr. that he is passed over, and that
promotion goes. instead. to that particu-
lar one Of his juniors who Is known by
the executive 10 be possessed in the
highest degree OF the qualities required
FOR the command. Naturally. the exeCu-
tive upon whom the responsibility rests,
Is tempted % nominate the man whom
he knows best. with whose character he
IS most intimately acquainted. and OF
whose suitability for the post he is most
assured. perhaps. through personal friend
ship-sometimes through close official as
socatiOn. This Is only 70 be expected
yet Il invariably results I'm charges Of
favoritism being brought against the ex-
ecutiye. who, moved with a profound
sense Of his accountability. has only been
doing what he considers to be the right
thing for the nation.
Sovcreigns. like chief magistrates OF
republics and prime ministers. as well as
the heads OF ministerial departments owe
their Office. before everything else. 70
popular will IL Is upon their judgment
that the nation relies to safeguard tho
interests Of the commonwealth, by ap-
pointing 70 offices OF responsibility only
such men as they feel convinced are duly
qualified TO perform the task assigned
TO them. II they nominate men unified.
they are held TO account; for where the
welfare and safety Of the nation are
concerned, no other considerations can
be allowed TO weigh IN the matter. moi
even seniority
Huge sham Campaigns.
Those annual maneuvers Of the army
and OF the navy, upon which such large
sums Of money are spent each year by
the United States and by the great pow.
ers Of Europe. are designed, not alone for
the purpose OF affording a training IN
something akin to actual warfare to the
troops and to the ships. but also TO test
the qualities of the commanders. Indeed.