Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-27
READY TO TAKE HAND IN PICK.
s ING SUCCESSOR TO GEN.
ERAL WOOD.
SENATE WILL NOT STAND
FOR sWIVEl.cHAiR CHIEF
Army Circles and Senate Committees
Will Insist Head Of Army Must Have
Had Field Experimentation AP-
pears to Lie Between Barry, Carter
and Wotherspoon.
Especial Correspondence


Washington, Jan. 27.-Army circles
are all aroused over the question Of
who is to succeed Major General
Leonard Wood as chief of staff. 1t has
been announced that General Wood
will be given other duty in short
time and the problem is who shall sue
coed him
Not merely is there acute interest
in this appointment in army circles but
also in the senate Threats are heard
that unless chief Of staff is named
who has had ample service in the field
he will find trouble in being confirmed.
10 Some Job Nowadays.
It appears that most Of the high
officers of the army are looking with
longing eye on the Office Of chief OF
staff. 1t is an influential position at
any time. 1t is especially so now, with
Mexican trouble looming up and more
or less ominous talk going the rounds
as to the need of army preparedness,
With unrest in the Philippines and so
on. Moreover. it is more desirable
than it used to be to serve as chief OF
stan in the days when p. c. Ainsworth
as adjutant general came pretty near
running the army and all that apper-
tanned thereto.
The men at the top Of the army list
who are chiefly mentioned for chief of
staff are, in order Of rank. Maj. Gems.
Thomas H. Barry. William H Carter.
Arthur Murray and William w. Woth-
erspoon Maj. Gen ]. Franklin Bell.
oHf IF
the army. ranks next to Major Cen
eraI Wood, the latter being the highest
ranking major general on the active
list. However, General Bells health
has been weakened by hard work and
hard campaigning in the Philippines.
and besides he has served one detail
a.s chief OF staff 1t is assumed he will
not be named "
No Carpet Generals Wanted.
A sharp contest is on among Cen
erals Barry. Carter and Wotherspoon
and the situation is being watched
closely In the senate. especially In the
Senate military committee. Friends OF
Generals Barry and Carter are object
ing to General Wotherspoon on the
ground that the other two officers have
seen much more field service than he
is not primarily an officer who has
been away from Washington. as an
active officer Of the line in command OF
troops Any officer who has been on
duty mainly about the war department
In Washington will have hard shedding.
Both Generals Barry and Carter have
had many years Of service in command
of troops General Wotherspoon has
not had so much field service as either
of them. General wotherspoon is a
native Of the District Of Columbia. was
on the general staff here from 1904 to
1909. and also served TO some extent
in 1911 and 1912 OH the general stan.
He Is now head OF the War College
here.
General Carter is native OF Ten
nessee It has been sometimes charged
he was one Of the foremost Of the
Washington "swivel-chair brigade" AS
a matter of fact, few high officers OF
the army have been on active service
with troops more than Carter. Barry
is New York man by birth and
though he has not seen as hard service
as Carter he has lot OF 1t to his
credit
Many Competent Men.
Besides. there are some able
brigadier generals who are perfectly
competent to be chief Of staff and who
have been in active field service almost
constantly. Among them is the re-
doubtable Funston. ranking brigadier
OF the army. a man who has always
risen to every emergency. Also there
are Bliss. Pershing and others. who
have excellent records. 1t is assumed,
however. selection will be made from
one OF the major generals. II Carter
and Barry. both outranking Wother-
spoon. are passed over for Wother-
spoon, there will be some entertaining
hostilities, in the region OF the Senate
military affairs committee. However,
nobody denies Wotherspoon Us talent
ed officer and objections to him rest
on the allegation he has spent TOO
many years Of army life in Washing