The Washington herald., 1912-02-16
AINSWORTH FEUD
AIRED In HOUSE
Contained from PAGE o.e.


he dares to comment on the action Of his
superfors. On the other hand we have
an oficer whom the President frankly
admits has been valuable politically, but
who has been charged with corrupting
the wife OF a clerk and Of engaging un-
duly in political activity despite the
orders of his superior officers.
Army officers all over the country are
discontented with the action Of the Presi-
dent in attempting to whitevash Maj.
true, is utterly unfit for any position In
the United States army"
Trouble at Head.
The situation in the War Department
was apparently brought to head by a
memorandum. written on February by
Gen. Ainsworth, though called for last
December, on the proposal Of the Gen
eral Star to make changes In the form
of the muster roll This memorandum,
called for by the Chief Of Stan at the
construed by Secretary Stimson as an
attack upon himself, the Chief Of Stan,
and the officers of the General Stan.
Whereupon Secretary Stimson went TO
the White House with the matter, and IL
is understood that he made II an issue
with President Taft. The President was
told that either Gen. Ainsworth must go.
or new Secretary of War must be
found, The President directed that Gen.
Ainsworth be relieved, and held on wait
ing orders until disciplinary measures
could be decided upon. 1t was also de-
cided that the Adjutant Generals Once
be turned over to Col. II. P. Mccain.
In a letter. addressed to Gen. Aims
worth, Mr.. Stimson cites the passages of
H..
deemed insulting TO the Secretary, to
Gen. Wood, and other officers. In these
remarks. Mr.. Stimson declares, you i'm
pugn the fairness and intelligence of the
Secretary OF War, under whose authority
the proposition in question was submitted
TO you. You also criticise and impugn
the military capacity and experience, the
intelligence and fair-mindedness, and
finally question the the honor and good
faith of the officers of the General Stan
and the War College, whose plan you
were directed to discuss"
Was Previously Warned.
! Secretary Stimson says further: This
is not an isolated instance Of insubor-
dination and improperly on your part.
nor is II made in the absence of warn
ing <as to the necessary consequence Of
such an outburst. On September last
you submitted 10 me a memorandum
in which you, by insinuation, charged
the Chief of Stan with improper mo-
tives in his proposed action OF relieving
certain officers OF the recruiting service.
I then on September 1s wrote you from
Huntington, L. l., personal letter of
warning in respect to your conduct in
submitting that m memorandum.
Secretary Stimson then quotes from
his former letter. in which he urged
upon Gen. Ainsworth the necessity of
the officers OF the War Department re-
specting the good faith OF the motives
of other officers, even though differing
with them as to judgment. The Secre-
tary continues:
In considering whether these offenses
against propriety on your part are mere
ly exceptional cases Of rudeness and III
temper, ] find that they have become
habitual on your part, and have occurred
under other administrations of The War
Department, and concerning other Of
ficers than those of the General Staff."
Instances of Gen. Ainsworth's attacks
upon other officers. in his official re-
ports. are cited here. Mr.. Stimson con-
tinues:
Your present action, which, because
of the prior warning received and the
length of time consumed in the prepara-
tion OF your present memorandum, must
De QeeHeu OeuDeFdte, therefore Out
the elimination OF a series of outbreaks
tion and such readiness to impugn either
the motives or the intelligence OF those
with whom IL is your duty to work in
association, as. il uncorrected, to destroy
your usefulness in your present ONCE.
1t is impossible that the business Of the
government shall be properly conducted
II official communications are made oc-
fpr ,rfN nd
asperions upon felIow-oficers, and for
insolonce to superiors. Under such cir
cumstances self-respect would forbid that
cooperation which is necessary to effect
i've service. This is especially true in
the military service, where due subordIna-
ton and respect to superior officers Is
essential to the maintenance Of discip-
line.
Put Up to Taft.
AS I am mystelf apparently included
in your latest attack, l have preferred
to deem myself disqualified from judicial
action thereon and have laid the matter
before the President as commsnder-in-
chief. He directs that, pending cOnsid-
Grafton of the disciplinary measures to
be taken, you be forthwith relieved from
duty in your office. You will therefore,
upon receipt of this order, stand relieved
Of your duties in the ONCE of the Adju-
tnat General and will await further
orders in this city"
When this order had been made public
Gen. Ainsworth, who was in his office,
denied himself to all callers, his messen-
gers were instructed TO say that he was
out, and early in the afternoon he left
the building. 1t was the first time in
more than a decade. 1t was said at the
department, that Gen. Ainsworth left his
office early He has been noted for his
long hours, seven days a week, and hard
work. Secretary of War Stimson and
Mai. Gen. Wood declinea-to speak Of the
case in any way.
Entering the army as q doctor, No
vember 10, 1874. Gen. Ainsworth has risen
to the second highest office in the War
Department and the army. He has been
in Washington twenty-seven years and
has held what was practically his pres
ent position for twenty years. During
those two decades he rose IN rank until
in 1904 he was given the title OF major
general and military secretary. Gen. /
Ainsworth built up the present record
system of the War Department, and es-
tablished a record for personal efficiency
and untiring labors. In his department.
he has been undsputed for twenty years
and has thwarted all attempts made by
previous Secretaries Of War and heads
Of the General Staff to interiors in any
way, with his administration. Gen. Aims
worth's department has proved especially
servlceable to members Of Congress in
quiring into the military records of con-
stituents desiring pensions or other re-
lief. In a word, Gen Ainsworth has not
been a soldier in the sense that most
of hi, assocfatas In the department are