New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-03
Naval "Plucking Board Should 20

Most foirminded persons will agree with 'e'''
tsry Daniels i'm regarding the report VI INV
.n,ucking board" presented on NeuheS''!
poor Adn,rals Southerand. Mcknight he!Ho
and Caperton ard Captain Walter Mclean az
..traric thing" The tragedy lies Ill the S"''e"
,oss ond unexnecte,incSS with which the oi"" VI
disqualification falls.
rorci,la retirement. with the stigma OF PROBES
.sio,.l deterioration comes like bolt out Oh
.loor civ The victim has warning ana ITO
honco IN defend himself. He may not nave tlie
ti,h,aet srsnicion that his name has Deeh put
,,o tho bacl list in the hands of the inqulSi'orS
,fo ca,n,. reulv to charges affecting his quahh
.o,ions or record He may he in command OF
shin surrounded by loyal and friendly associates
.,a;,,, .bo confidence and respect of all his sub
ordinates. when he and they read one morning Ill
the newspapers that he has been ordered on 'he
retired list by virtue of star chamber proceeding
in Washington.
The humiliation of such an experience must DE
extreme. especially to man devoted 10 Ills "o'
fossiop and confident of hi future in IT, II OIL
fcers must be retired i'll order to accelera'e P'o
motion i, ,vould be far juster and humaner to
retire them on grounds Of which they nave Ioi'
lroulsdce The present system is too arbitrary
and tyrannical. 1t gives too much power |" 'i'
.olrckinc boards" 1t subjects worthy officers to
possible persecution and offers too much pa! 10
tbe hidden workings Of personal prejudice anu
favortism.
We are glad to know that Secretary Daniels l.
onposed 10 a continuance of the present scDeme o'
secret blackbaing. That scheme may nave
worked to the advantage Of the service ni'ee"
years ago when there were plenty OF men WHO
had not ADAPTED themselves 10 the severer stahu
ards OF the navy. Put nowadays the standards o.
efficiency are far higher and selections fer en-
forced retirement have to be made which are not
warranted on any ground Of personal or proIeS
slona delinquency Instead of actual Shortcohi-
inrs some arbitrary basis Of discrimination Is eS'
tablshed and high-cass officers are sacrificed t"
it without equity or mercy
There have been two notable examples recently
Of the Injustice which "plucking boards do under
existing conditions. Last year Captain Tcmphh
Potts was forcibly retired and this year Captain
John II Gibbons has been blackballed Both
stood high in the navy Captain Potts had been
naval sttachC i'm Berlin and head Of the Once cf
Naval Intelligence Of the Navy Department. lie
had an especially active Influence in naval affairs
under Secretary Meyer He was "plucked osten-
sjblv because lac had not had sufficient sea service
i'm the Grade Of captain. But if he was detailed
by the department for important shore services he
could only obey orders and il was not his fault
that he was deficient in service at sea. He has
gone TO Congress with appeal for restoration
10 the active list but 50 FAR steps looking tow
ard his restoration have been taken.
Captain Gibbons was naval attache at London
for several years and afterward served a
term Of duty as superintendent Of the Naval Acad-
cmy His professional reputation is Of tho highest.
yet simply because he obeycd orders and took an
assignment to Annapolis and is therefore short OIL
sea duty. he, too. has been harshy and unjustiy
pcnalizcd.
II is time 10 throw the "puckins' inqusition
overheard. II would he better even to let promo
ton drag little than TO retire competent and
worthy officers without any other excuse than
that their places needed 10 give 10 officers be
low them. Secretary Daniels will accomplish Il
practical reform and DO away with n dangerous
source Of factonaism and i'll feeling in the navy
n nc induces Congress TO abolish the "plucking
board" and substitute fairer and less oppressive
method Of involuntary retirement.