The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-09-09
believe in keeping them in at recess.
The older people. who have studied
pedagogy, will also agree with him.
THE ARMY AS A POLITICAL
MACHINE.

President Taft's use of the army as
an adjunct to political manipulation
has been carried to the extent that
seems to demand halt and an inyesti-
cation.
Before the case of Major Ray, politi-
cal booster in extraordinary for the
Taft political cause, has been disposed
of by an investigating committee of
Congress, we have the still more dis
creditable case of Lieutenant Ruther-
ford commanding attention to the use
of army influence to force political re-
suits.
Rutherford was accused of embez-
cling 5000 from the funds of his COM
pany at Madison Barracks, New York.
A court-martial of nine officers found
him guilty of embezzlement and unani-
mously recommended that he be dis
missed.
Because embezzlement is civil, not
a military, crime, General Grant had the
case reopened, and the court adhered
to its former verdict.
Then Senator Stone of Missouri
busted himself. Rutherford was con-
nected by marriage with the family of
a former Missouri Representative in
Congress. Political pull galore was
arrayed to save him. Senator Stone
carried the case to President Taft.
The reciprocity measure was coming
before the Senate. Mr.. Taft wanted
votes. Senator Stone wanted Ruther-
ford saved.
Three different officers in the Judge
Advocate Generals department re-
viewed the papers and sustained the
court martial. Gen. E. II. Crowder,
the judge advocate general, was him
self one of them.
No difference. Politics, reckless of
the ruinous effect on military disci-
pline, kept at its work of saving Ruth
erford. Stone would accomplish that
end at any cost. Taft would have
votes for reciprocity at any price.
What happenedf
Stone voted for and supported reci-
procity.
Rutherford's court-martial was set
aside, and, instead of being dismissed,
the officer lost fifty numbers in rank.
In due time-merely a little longer
time-he will get his promotion; he
retains his uniform and sword; he re-
mains, a demoralizing testimonial to
the power of cheap politics in the
army's conduct.
Small wonder that the army is liter
ally ablaze with indignation over the
affair. What chance is there for the
maintenance of discipline in such con-
ditions! How is respect for the mill
tary law to be inculcated when such q
rank offense as this is set aside and
forgiven, utterly without consideration
of merits, but simply on the strength
of aggregated political pullf
This is the sort of thing that de-
stroys all military esprit and efficiency.
1t brings Dreyfus outrages in France,
and round table scandals in Germany.
1t will produce parallel results here.
The President of the United States
is the most powerful Executive in the
world, dispensing as he does a huge
civil patronage and possessing the full
authority of commanderin-chief of
the army and navy. We have seen the
patronage power used in the futile
effort to destroy the men of his own
party who would not agree with the
President. Now we have the military
authority invoked to buy political ends.
How far is this degradation of ad-
to go?