The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-19
NAVY STIRRED AS GRAYSON
is NAMED REAR ADMIRAL
Nomination Made Over Heads
Of ia Officers Causes
Talk Of "Pork.,
BITTER FIGHT EXPECTED
Wilson Names Young Golf
Partner for $4,000 Post Of
Medical Director.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1s.-Naval circles
were stirred to their depths to-day when
the President nominated DR.. Cary T.
Grayson. his young friend. physician and
golf partnsf. for the post of Medical Di-
rector. with the grade Of Rear Admiral.
No such appointment has ever been at
tempted in either the navy or army, and
q bitter fight is predicted in the Senate
over It,
The Presidents proposed action, for
which Secretary Daniels seeks to take
responsibility, virtually means catapult-
ing the young virylnian over the heads
OF 11& Of the most notable and experi-
enced officers OF the Medical Corps. From
Passed Assistant Surgeon with the reia-
would be promoted above fourteen Lleu-
| tenants, eighty-five' surgeons with the
| rank Of Lieutenant Commander and fif-
| teen medical inspectors.
Every naval ofYicer Of the line or stan
with whom THE Sun correspondent
| talked tonight was burning with in
| dignation at what he described as q fia-
! grant example Of the navy being used
for personal favors- They all said that
for charm OF manner and loyalty DR..
Grayson is without aspeer, but opinion
| was almost unanimous That by no
| stretch Of imagination could he be con-
sidered as logically qualified for the post.
Many Made t. Feel slight.
Were DR.. Grayson the only one con-
| cerned. It was pointed out. the appoint-
ment would have a less disastrous effect
on the navy spirit. but all the expert
enced officers who are sighted anu
passed under his command are likely to
| "a uyhA hAan
made O plaything by the Administration.
| 1t was with perceptibie effort that Mr..
Daniels appeared unconcerned when he
announced this nomination along with
other promotions In the STAN corps to
new positions created by Congress- at its
last session. The other promotions are
considered logical selections. Medical
Inspector william c. Braisted is to be
made Medical Director with rank OF
Rear Admiral; Pay Director Samuel Nc
Govan . to be Pay Director, with the
rank of Rear Admiral: Civil Engineer
r. r. Harris IL to be Civil Engineer
with the rank Of Rear Admiral.
The wave Of indignation with which
trance Of politics into the service caused
Mr.. Daniels some embarrassment IN
making his statement. In view OF the
1 presence of line officers in the room. but
he played his role boldly. admitting that
the post of Medical Director was very
signal tribute to the young officer. and
adding that "Dr. Grayson was q very
fine man."
Naya, officers at the Department
pointed out the grotesque Inconsistency
between Mr.. Daniels's action In recon-
mending DR.. Grayson's appointment and
his high sounding statements concerning
promotion which he made in his annual
report.
ospectre OF Pork" . Menace.
In discussing promotion by selection
in this report Mr.. Daniels dilated at
length on how his plan would exclude
such selections from the effects Of po-
litical influence" He pointed out that
merit and point of service must be para
mount, and otherwise took the view that
his whole policy was to get the most
available man for every post"
i In O broad way naval ohlcers say
4 the unhappy effect Of political and per-
ksonal favors taking precedence over ex-
i perience and fitness In the navy will be
4 felt on board every ship and in every
tnayy yard in the country. There has
been no greater menace to real eff
ciency than the spectre Of pork" In the
navy, according TO every view expressed
here. Once naval officers understand
that they are not to be judged by their
special fitness for positions. but are to
be pawns in game OF politics, their
whole spirit becomes changed, II Is ex.
planned. The Administration has never
been regarded as friendly to either the
amy or navy. but officers In each OF
these branches had at least hoped that
the discipline and spirit they had main
tanned would not be contaminated.
Line officers fear the Presidents action