New-York tribune., 1912-02-16
THEDA yINWASHI.NGTON

have. demonstrated by their heartless anu
precipitate. desertion OF the Wisconsin Sen
ator That there arc among their number
certain deposed officials who imagine that
II by any possibility they can bring about
the denomination OF Mr.. Roosevelt they can
thereby place him under such obligation as
will regain for them the official power they
have forfeited through their own fault is
fully realized. as is also the fact that 1t
would be an injustice to hold Colonel Roose-
velt responsible for the yagaries Of such
self-seeking sgitators
sTIMsoN's NERvE.--"Tf any one doubts
Harry Stmson's nerve, let him examine
his record said Colonel Roosevelt In the
campaign OF a year ago. The remark
might now be made with even greater
force, for II has required the courage which
Mr.. Stimson broIghC to the Office of Secre-
tsry OF War to recommend the deposition
Of Major General AinsV orth, vino for thir-
ty-seven years has been an impregnable
political power in the War Department.
That General Ainsworth has rendered much
valuable service no one Will deny. bat IL
is equally true that many of his superiors
have longed to depose him. and that, be-
cause of his powerful influence with Con-
ercss they have not dared to do SO. W!th
increasing years and augmented security
I'm his position. tho former adjutant general
has become moro and more independent,
and II has long been obvious that. unless
nc vas transferred to the retired list
clash with his surcriors of serious proper
tions must ensuc. Like death. however. 1t
was almost as unexpected to-day as IL has
ever been. Few there were who believed
Secretary Stimson. within n comparatively
short time after his induction into office,
would have the courage TO take the step.
General Ainsworth's great influence was.
cf course. with members OF Congress, who
declare that they have never sent him
a letter requesting information without
receiving an answer the same day His
great capacity for administration endeared
i'm TO them. and 1t is quite possible that
they VIII seek 10 make trouble for the an
ministration because Of his deposition, al
though many Of the Republicans admit
that a situation in which the Secretary OF
War found himself continually confronted
by obstacles erected by one of his own sub
ordinates through political influence was
BIDNeTSlNe Ol ulSClpllHc anu PiOJuuiNi"' !"
good administration OF the War Depart
ment as a whole.
DIPLOMATIC CHANGES.-I'he Senate
confirmed to-day the nominations OF Ed
ward Bell OF New York. formerly secre-
tary at Tcheran. as secretary at Havana,
and II. T.. a. Schoenfcld, formerly of the
Department OF State, as third secretary at
Constantinople. This, It Is understood,
concludes the list of wholesale transfers.
notable among which was that OF Arthur
Bailly- Blanchard. long secretary at Paris
70 be secretary at Toxic, which caused So
mucn opposition in the Senate. The greater
number OF these nominations were held UP
in the Committee on Foreign Relations for
time, as was told in this column, pend
ing an investigation 10 determine ther
purposes The inquiries OF members OF
that committee brought the explanation
from Secretary Knox that Assistant Sec
retary Wilson had made the transfers be-
cause he believed it Injured 20 the benefit OF
the diplomatic service to shift its members
about. thus aifording them wider
knowledge and q broader view OF foreign
affairs. Senators were loath TO approve
the transfers but did so because Secretary
Knox made It a personal matter and.
further. gave them assurances that no such
wholesale transfers would occur again ana
that none would be made unless he was
himself convinced that some good reason
therefor existed. u. u H.