Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-06-23
A NATIONAL ToP-LINER.
F. c. AInsworth, AdJutant General Of
United states Army, Native Of Wood


stock.
Fred Crayton Ainsworth, adJutant
general of the United States army and
Delphic oracle of the war department
il the fair and curly haired child of
Congress. Every time the Senators and
members of the House start out to leg
islate for the military branch of this
peaceful but somewhat pugnacious
country, they step right up to the bat
and line out an additional honor for the
favorite youngster. Whenever Congress
fails to pass something sweet and de-
licious to Ainsworth, there's a mighty
good excuse for 1.-THE explanation gen.
orally being that Congress isn't in ses-
sion.
And the reason for all this is that the
general is one of the past masters of
that highly effective lodge known as
Johnnies on the Job. He Is the standard
bearer of the Make Good Union, an or
ganization that has an utter disregard
for the clock and that laborious season
of the year called vacation time. The
fair haired chid-as a matter of fact,
his hair is black as the abysmal
reaches of Egyptian nights, first and
foremost, the original card index man.
for he knew all about the card index
system years before Frank II. Hitch
cock made brilliant use of it in electing
William II. Taft President
Back in 1886 the rulers and critics of
the country became convinced that there
was something wrong in the war depart
ment Nobody up there seemed to
know anything. outside of the igno-
rance displayed, said the rulers, the
department was in tiptop shape; but
the boneheaded habit of knowing moth
ing was a serious defect. For instance,
if a senator wanted to get the record of
a man who was or had been in the
[ ha hra n Of
three or four months to secure the in
formation. An inquiry as to the birth
place of Private Jones of the Third in
fantry threw the department into a
frenzied but full grown imitation of
"Button-button-who got the button?"
Wherefore" said the rulers, 1--WE
need reform, system, and information"
Some old fellow, whose acumen was
greater than his present reputation,
suggested young DR.. Alnsworth, ma
tive of Vermont. That was in the late
months of 1886, when the fair haired
child was an assistant surgeon. In the
spring of 1887 he got on the job, a loca-
ton he has maintained against all
corners ever since. He struck the de-
partment with one hand full of cards
and the other laden with filing and
recording sheets.
He installed his card index system,
and he reformed the plan of keeping the
department records. The job had about
as many troublesome heads as were
! fastened on the hydra that Hercules,
| with the help of a friend, wounded,
| laCerated, and assassinated. The rulers
and the critics hoped for the best; but
! they were not sure of any fine results.
Then, one fine autumn day, the blow
fell. A senator was in a hurry for a
transcript of the complete record of a
certain man in the army. He called up
Ainsworth.
"Ar right" said the fair haired one,
I'll send it up to you by special mes
senger this afternoon"
The senator tainted, being shocked by
the army officers trying to make fun
of him. The thing was impossibel How
could a man get together in four hours
the information that formerly was
forthcoming in not less than three
months? But Ainsworth did It, The
trusty little card index system and the
reforms in keeping the records had got
in their work. From that time on. any
data affecting the military service was
always on tap at the spigot where the
| oracle presided Answorth had saved
| the government six hundred thousand
dollars a year.
After that the legislative branch of
| the government laid it's cooling and pro-
| tecting hand on the reformer's brow.
The makers of laws and manufacturers
of honors made him a major in 1884, a
|
| 1899, major general and military secre-
| tary in 1901. and adjutant general in
| 1907. All this was done by votes in the
House and Senate and put on the stat
ute books. The legislators did not wait
for presidential appointment and pro-
| motion to do the work. They did 1t
| themselves.
The adjutant general is a quiet man,
| playing best in the role of the fullest
blown flower in all the garden of those
! blossoms born to blush unseen. He goes
| to work at eight o'clock every morning
although nine is the accepted hour for
| Westinghouse to begin the days la
| Dor, and he sits at his desk until five
| in the afternoon. He scorns vacations
and it would take an earthquake to jar
| him loose from the national capital
The result is that he is credited by
Congress with knowing more about the
army than any other man in the
| country. Unlike most army officers, he
knows all about politics and has de.
| cided views.