The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-12
MAY HIT FUNSTON
War Department Urging MUIR
ray for Army Vacancy.
Short Service of Kansan Held
Against Advancement.
NOW DEFENDS COAST.
Colonel of the FOrty-Third Regi
ment Has EnviabIe Record.
Other Items of General Interest
to Readers in the State.

Washington, Dec. ia vigorous
conest is being waged between friends
of Brigddier General Arthur Murray,
chief of coast artillery, and Brigadier
General Frederick Funston over the
coming appointment of 4 new major
general. The vacancy will be created
by the retirement January Is of Major
General William p. DuvaII, a native of
Maryland, who will be relieved of COM
mand of the Philippines division by
Major General J. Franklin Bell, FORM
err chief Of staff
The fight is really between the war
department, favoring General Murray
on a brilliant record of efficiency
through a long career, and members OF
the Kansas and California delegations
and other politicians favoring General
Funston, partly through sentiment fer
a local favorite and partly because he
has headed the list Of brigadier gen.
erals for several years. The odds ap-
pear to be in favor of Murray, since
President Taft has taken a stand
against politics in the army, but the
fight may be carried to such a point
that both will be eliminated by dark
horse. The other fourteen brigadier
generals of the line, even the presi-
dents close friend, Brigadier General
Clarence Edwards, chief of the insular
bureau, stand ready to be dark horses
Funston is being strenuously opposed
from many Sides F~unSton's jump from
a DElGI DuI spectacular 0ApGIl0I1CC III
the volunteer service to be brigadier
general in the regular army was hard
for the army to accept, and officers
want him to wait for further honOrs.
Funston has 90 years to serve In the
army, while Murray has but four years
from next April.
Champ Clark for Murray.
General Wood, chief of staff, ana
Secretary Dickinson, both favor Muir
ray, and they are understood to have
presented strong arguments to the
president. Murray is relying upon his
military record, although he has some
important political friends. He and
the president might hesitate to ignore
recommendation made by the probable
speaker Of the next house. Logically.
the war departments holds the vacancy
should be filled from the coast artillery.
since General Duvan was appointed
from that branch. If it should go to
Funston or to any other officer from
the infantry branch, it would elini-
nate the coast artillery from the major
generals list.
General Murray mad an enviable rec
ord in the Philippines. He was colonel
of the Forty-third regiment of volun-
teers, which, according to the war de-
partment records, experienced service
unexcelled in action by any other Or
ganization in either Philippines or
Cuba. Murray was sent to Samar and
Leyte with the regiment in 1900. For
16 months he kept the insurrectionists
in subsection and penetrated the in
terror, where even the Spaniards had
never ventured. His troops participated
in 451 enga gements, 3S1 of which were
marked with casualties and captures.
He became chief of artillery October
/ 1906. A comparison of the state Of
the coast defense guns and mines at
that time and the present shows that a
remarkable advance has been made,
due principally to his efforts. A re-
markable Improvement also has been
made in the personnel.
Funston Jumps Ahead
In the army no one discounts Fun
ston's military ability. His record is
one of efficiency as far back as it goes:
but he has been in the service less than
ten years. All of this time he has been
a, brigadier general, having been
rewarded for the capture of Aguinaldo.
With all of the officers ahead of him
near the retirement age he soon rose
to the top of the list. Arguments in
his favor are that, with a good record
it is gtagnating to prom ote others over
his head. On the other hand, it is said
that It would be more of an Injustice
to promote Funston and leave other
officers, with 40 years or more of faith
full and efficient service, to retire with
no further recognition of their service
There are 95 first 1ieutenants of the
line who have had longer service than
Funston.
Kansas congressman are making a
plea for their hoy general as he was
called when appointed. California con-
gressmer favor him because of his
valuable services in saving much pror1
erty from destruction in the San Fran
cisco earthquake. Railway and other
big interests. whose warehouses and
other valuable property We're saved. arc
said to have promised Fusion at that
time to have him made major general
at once.
Farmers Planning Light Plants.
Atchison, Kan, Dec. 1.-THE farm