New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09

Although, in common with all men
who have spent their life in the SER
vice. he has never taken any part in
politics. General Wotherspoon comes
from Republican family, and his ten
denotes have always been in that direc-
ton. His home is in Utica.
Colonel Louis NJ. Stotesbury. who is
to be adjutant general, served under
General Wotherspoon in working out
the plans for the mobilization of the
state militia in case Of war with Me-
leo. The general wrote a letter highly
recommending Colonel Stotesbury.
Just how loEG he had had General
Wotherspoon under consideration for
appointment the Governor-elect would
not say, but indicated that it was no.
where near so long as two weeks, which
was reported in an afternoon paper.
No sooner had the general told Mr..
Whitman at the latter's home yesterday
morning that he would accept the place
than the Governor-elect made his an
nOuncement.
General Wotherspoon has received
assurances, it was learned on the best
of authority, that he is to have the ut
most freedom in managing his depart
ment. 1t was predicted last night that
he would shake up the entire force in a
way that has never happened before.
There probably is no department in
the state government where there is so
much patronage as in that of the Su-
perintendent of Public Works. Most Of
II is small in degree, but priced by
politicians none the less, because it is
plentiful. In the future efficiency will
be the only recommendation if General
Wotherspoon has his way, and, as
stated, he has been told that he is to
have his way.
There are several thousand men en-
ployed on the canals. Most of them
are protected by the civil service. 1t
IS estimated, however, that there are
some 500 employees of the office who
are in the exempt class.
The principal places General Woth-
erspoOn will have to fill are deputy
superintendent and three assistant
superintendents, at $4,000 a year each.
The present deputy is William j. Nor
rissey, of Saratoga Springs. The as
sistants are: Eastern Division, Wal
ter e. Robinson, of Schenectady; Mid
die Division, William II. O'Brien,
Of Baldwinsville; Western Division,
Charles McDonough, Of Buffalo.
III inc Olu udyS the Sldle DupeIln-
tendent of Public Works had charge
Of the states highways. The incom-
ing administration expects to make a
change in the present system, and it Is
suggested that General Wotherspoon
will have considerable to say about
highways in the future.
A son Of Assistant Surgeon Alexan-
der s. Wotherspoon, General Wother-
spoon as young man enlisted in the
navy. From there he entered the
army, being commissioned as a second
Lieutenant and assigned to the 18th In
faEtry in 1878. He saw much service
on the Western frontier, quelling
Indian disturbances, and in 1891 was
placed in charge of Geronimo and his
band of Apache prisoners in the Mount
Vernon (Alabama) barracks. He had
three years and half Of hard work
in the Philippines, during which he
had his share in the establishment of
civil government there.
After serving a number of times on
the General staff, General Wother-
spoon succeeded Major General
Leonard Wood as CHER on April %.
Through the operation of the age
limit he was retired on November 16.
Although sixty-four years old, General
Wotherspoon is active and vigorous.
Among the callers on Governor-elect
Whitman yesterday were William L..
Ward. leader of Westchester; Jacob
A. Livingston, Kings County leader,
accompanied by William II. Friday, and
Scnator-elect Ogden l.. Mills.