New-York tribune., 1912-01-28
THE BENEVOLENT SECRETARY

IN reminiscent vein an old former en-
plovee Of the War Department narratcs
story of a Secretary Of War, a true story
Of unusual kindness.
Seldom does a member Of the Cabinet see
or know anything concerning the personnel
of the department; nor does he have the
time to look into the rights and wrongs OF
the subordinate individuals who carry on the
clerical work.
Once a clerk was assigned 10 the Adjutant
Generals Office, where he proved to be an
efficient and gcntlemanly worker, man OF
unusual refinement He made friends Of all
who came his way, and his immediate Su-
periors were glad to have such a man in the
service.
To the surprise of everyone there came
from the Adjutant General an order dis
missing this clerk. The chief clerk learned
that the Adjutant General had discovered
that the clerk had formerly been employed
in the service, and had been convicted OF
secrcting, purloining, and destroying official
papers. There was no doubt about II, be-
cause there were two old employees Of the
Office who recognized the man and informed
the Adiutant General about his past.
The order Of dismissal, with many other
papers, was laid on the desk ot the Secretary
Of War. He carefully examined al papers
that came before him, and when he read
that discharge order, he asked, as this clerk
q married man, Has be- a wife, Has he
childrcn> Is this discharge absolutely ncccs-
sarv;'
The Secretary was informed that the man
had q wife. three children, and mother de-
pending upon him for support, also that he
had been a soldier in the Union army, and
a brave one; but that his one official mis-
deed made him undesirable as a clerk, and
that the Adjutant General required his i'm
mediate dismissal.
"This is the ninth Of December" muscd
the Secretary. 81 wonder if 1t has occurred tc
the Adiutant General that Christmas comes
on the twcnty-ffth Of this month. If ! sign
this order, there will be gloomy Christmas
at his home. There may be no presents tol
the children, and there may be no GLAD
Christmas dinner, no Christmas tree, nC
Santa Claus, no mcrrimcnt, and in his family
there will be no scmblancc Of the coming o.
the Christ with Peace on earth.
"Moreovcr, ! see" continued the ScCrc
tarv, "that fourteen years have elapsed since
this misdecd was done. In the meantime
as the record shows, this man has been living
honestly, acquired the esteem Of those who
recommended him for appointment, and ha'
entered the state Of matrimony and become
a father. Cannot a man live down fault
or a misdccd or a crime, in this land O
Christianity? cannot sign this order which
vi ! send him out into the world without any
income, and again blackcning his reputation
after all these years Of cndcayor to redeem
the past by right living. | cannot do it, anc
remain on speaking terms with myself, dur
ing this Christmas tide"
On the following morning, when informcC
that the Secretary had declined TO sign thu
order, the Adjutant General called upon hin
and discussed the case officially, with TIN
result that he convinced the Secretary tina
unless the clerk should be dismissed Their
could not be maintained that high order o
efficiency and discipline for which the ottlc
had always been distinguished.
The Secretary finally asked that the clcrI
be sent to him. The unfortunate man Wa
received with great courtesy, and asked t
narrate his story
The man told the story of his fourteen