Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-24
GENERAL WHOSE RETIREMENT
HAS BEEN FORCED SET HOT
PACE FOR OTHERS.
WAS FATHER OF GREAT
CARD INDEX SYSTEM
greatest Clerk That Ever Came to
Washington" 10 contsmptuous Com
pIimsnt Paid Former Adjutant Gen.
srai-esats Roosevelt as Pedestrian
Other Tslssraphie News.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, Feb. 24.-General F. c.
Ainsworth, just now in the l!meltght
because Of the threatened investiga-
ton Of the war department, because Oh
his collision With the general staff. and
because of his sudden retirement as
adjutant general. is admitted even by
his enemies to be one Of the hardest
working men who ever held position
under the government In view OF the
prominence given the Ainsworth- Wood
controversy, many stories are now pc
ing told to illustrate General Aims
worth's capacity for hard work and for
organization.
Father of Gard Index System.
For one thing, General Ainsworth
was the father OF the card index syS-
TEN. The card index system. as eV-
erybody knows. has not only become
an essential part of every important
government office but OF every consid-
cradle private office. 1t is one OF the
most important adjuncts of the mod
ern political campaign manager and IL
tical results frequently hinge on the
question Of which side mas the pes
marshal of card index system. For
this. General Ainsworth is resoPhsi-
BILE
AS chief Of the division OF the "a'
department that had charge Oh 'as
tension records for many years, II pc
came necessary that system OF All
dexing he devised that would MAKE
easy Of access the millions OF docu-
inents in. those records. out OF thls
necessity. the card index system was
evolved and General AinsWoFth Is
given the credit for its evolution.
Work Seven Days Per Week
The week for General Ainsworth
practically all the time he was ao-
iutant general consisted OF seven
working DAYS He did not take respite
even on Sudavs. He was at ms desA
every day and drove himself even
harder than he drove. tle clerks uh
der him, and this last was al na.o
r,ace II was one Of his rules never 10
allow an important letter TO go uhan-
swered over night but te dispose OF II
before quitting the office rms was
especially true of letters sent TO MIN
By members Of congress. Ihese were
answered with the greatest prompt
ness and it was this showing OF Ell
ceincy that has served 10 give Genesal
Ainsworth such hold on congress and
make his influence large with that
body.
General !Ainsworth got down TO ms
office early and never stopped 1or
iunch. He SAID he had no time for
lunch and didn't want any anyhow
He worked at the office late If neces-
sary- Clerks found it almost impos-
sible TO get 10 the office ahead OF the
general. especially on the days when
heavy work was expected. such as the
day when mail from the Philippines
was due.
Was Well Liked.
In spite of the fact he worked hard
and made everybody under him work
hard General Ainsworth was liked by
the clerks under him and he had the
reputation Of seeing that they were
given a square deal.
It is not generally known that Cen
eral Ainsworth is one of the greatest
pedestrians in Washington. He has
walked long distances daily for years.
Even Roosevelt. who a great walker,
did not do the walking that was done
by the adjutant general Of the army
Such was the rigor of General Aims
wcrth's system in his office. so far as
he himself was concerned. that he re-
ceived personally and paid attention
personally to every important letter
that came to the office or went out
of It. Nothing worth mentioning
passed in or out without his keen
scrutiny, and it was thes landing order
of the office that in case Of the slight
est doubt about any matter 1t should
be referred to General Ainsworth.
At once .contemptuous and admiring
of General Ainsworth, the line officers
Of the army have long paid this con-
cession of him:
Hes the greatest clerk that ever
came TO Washington"