The Washington herald., 1917-01-21
The Grayson Affair.

due to the very radical departures of
the President from the logical routine
of his office. On most of his actions,
however, he has had at least part
Of the people of the country with him
and usually an even break OF the
press. But it is doubtful if he has
ever committed an act so universally
condemned as hiS promotion of DR..
Cary T. Grayson 10 the rank of rear
admiral This action which moves
DR.. Grayson ahead of III other mem
bers of the, Naval Medical Corps, has
caused even the newspapers which
have been strong in the support of
the Democratic party to lambast the
President, editorially.
The New York World, which is
generally regarded as the unofficial
organ OF the administration, in an edi-
torial labeled "A Mistake, Mr.. Presi-
dent" says in part:
President wilson's appointment Of DR.. Gary
T. Grayson to b. Medical Director Of the navy
with the rank Of admiral Is q grave mis-
take The President owes 1t to the navy, to
himself and to DR.. Graysou 10 recall the
nomination. fH
President Wilson has blundered By Allowing
his heart 10 control his head IN an appoint
ment which should have been made solely with
view to its effect upon the navy = whole.
The best way out Is for him to confess his
mistake by Withdrawing the nomination and
selecting a medical director from among the
men who have grown gray in the service and
have fairly earned such signal promotion.
Quoting from speech of the Pres
ident in which he said IT would
rather hear what the men are talking
about in the trains, in the shops and
by the hreside, than anything else"
the New York Sun grows vitrolic in
its announcement of the Presidents
action. AS an index to what the men
of the country are saying it con-
tributes:
They are talking about the scandsI oS tbs
appointment by which he. their servant not
their ruler, attempts TO provide a salary Of
$500 year for his psrsonal medical attendant
and connection By marriage not only at the ex-
pense OF the taxpayers but also at the cost Of
outrageous injustice to more than 100 officers
the superiors Of Dr.. Gary 7. Graysnn In line o
promotion
They arc saying that . nor, shocking mani
festation Of selhsh indifference To public opinion
more degrading exhibition Of personal rsft,
has -idom II ever been witnessed In the White
Houss
and BY the hreside that the United States Senate
Isn't worth 4 damn II It hasn't the manlines
and independencs and justice to reject this
scandalous nomination
The Baltimore Star asks, "Why
Rear Admiral for Grayson" and
satirically and plainly outlines the
status of DR.. Grayson:
Nothing could excuse tn. unprecedented act
1 President Wilson IN the elevation Of DR.. CsrJ
T. Grayson from the post Of White Houss doctor
and golf player extraordinary to rank
equivalent to rear armira and an advancement
over Ia other members Of the Naval Medical
Corps who vers listed ahead Of Dr. Grayson In
order Of service. excerpt e1traordinkry service In
line Of duty and the kind OF service demoustrstr
ing unusual abilities And oven at that thers
should Be an emergency demand for the man
supposed to POSSES e1traordinary qualifications
Dr. Grsyson seems not to be regarded ss possess
ing any high degree Of technical ability, he
has rendered no conspicuous service. he Is tst
court farorits"
The New York Tribune terms. the
Grayson promotion, "The Grayson
Scandal" and expresses as its
opinion that the appointment was a
deplorable blunder. 1t bemoans
the fact that the President could be
moved by any other consideration in
making promotions within the army
and the navy, than the good of the
service. The paper further states:
rbs jumping Of Dr. Gaysou over ten passed
assistant surgeons, eighty-si1 surgeons. twenty
siI medical inspectors and fifteen medical d.
r-ctors-iT IN al-cannot but demorslise the
Medical Corps Promotion in it has hitherto
been made on the basis OF seniority. Ths
seniority system has its drawbacks. But at
least it prevents the Eruss injustios involved
in the advancement over their heads, from far
inferior positions. Of lucky subordinates who
have had a chance to bask in the sunshine Of
white House favor.
The Philadelphia Evening Ledger,
in a philosophical vein, comments on
the promotion:
Dr.. Osry T. Grlysou. who has beso a medical
offer tn the navy for about thirtsen years
must Be regarded by the President as q deeerr-
ing Democrat Or. Grsysou. who Is the Presi-
dents physician. had risen by the ordinary
processes Of promotion to the rank Of a lieu
tenant commander with a salary Of 500 The
President has Jumped him over the heads Of
lH other officers and landed him in the ranks
of the rear admirsls at a salary OF g. Do He
Is 3 years old, twenty-eiEht years younr-r
than Dewey rhsn he attained that rank Blu.
what is the use Of being President If you can't
Be rood TO your friendsl
President Wilson probably had his
reasons for handing DR.. Grayson such
substantial increase in both station
and salary, but he will have a hard
time convincing the American people
that such promotion will benefit the
naval service. And aside from the
righteous aspects of the case it is
particularly inopportune at this time
when the death of Admiral Dewey /.
fresh in the minds of the people, that
one whose record has been so slight,
should be elevated to post that the
deceased Admiral reached, only after
years of active service and actual war
fare.
Mr.. Balfour's note supplementing the
formal reply Of the entente allies to