New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-20
The Grayson Scandal


In The Tribune's opinion the Grayson
anpointment was deplorable blunder,
We regret having to say this. 1t IS I'M
pleasant TO think thot in making promo
tions within the army and navy a Presi-
dent can be moved by any other considera-
ton than the good of those services.
Mistakes based on an erroneous judg-
ment Of military records and qualifications
NAV be hardened. But the Grayson APP
pointment is not such a mistake. 1t would
he superfuous for any Of Mr.. Wilson's de-
tenders to deny that he was paying oil a
private debt when he railroaded the at
tendar. physician at the White House tC
the top Of the medical corps Of the navy
II is useless for the President or anybody
else TO pretend that he was not influenced
i'm advancing DR.. Grayson, by personal anC
family considerations.
The jumping Of DR.. Grayson over II
PASSED assistant surgeons, SO surgeons
26 medical inspectors and 10 medical di
rectors-137 in all-cannot but demorallz'
the medical corps. Promotion in 1t ha!
hitherto been made on the basis Of senior
ity. The seniority system has its draw
backs. But at least it prevents the gross
Injustice to officers of long and honorable
service involved in the advancement ovel
their heads, from far inferior positions, OF
luclv subordinates who have had chance
10 bask in the sunshine Of White House
favor.
The section Of the last naval appropria
ton act which authorized promotion by Sc
lection instead Of by seniority was the one
feature of the law for which Secretary
Daniels was indisputably responsible Oh
lection was made in Congress that th'
new method would lead to iockeying, wire
pulling and favoritism in promotions. Blu
Mr.. Daniels fuently argued that only those
officers could be advanced who were TO b'
recommended by board of their superior
after a careful investigation Of profes
sional records.
So far as the line Of the navy was con
cerned the safeguard of a board Of nava
officers TO pass on promotions was inserted
in the law. But some craftsman whC
evidently knew what he was about omitted
the provision for board in case Of pro
motions in the staff corps. Nothing was
said. in fact, about a change, so far a:
the staff corps was concerned, in the
method Of promotion. President Wilson
arbitrarily applied the selection rule tC
both branches Of the service and was thus
enabled to railroad Dr.. GraysOn TO the tor
of the medical department without facing
the embarrassment of having to consider
recommendation for promotion made to
him by a board Of senior medical officers
The Grayson "joker' in the naval ap-
preparation law was not as plain as was
the Carson "joker' in the army reorgani-
zation act, picking out a staff appointment
in the army for a deserving Virginian who
had served as a judge in the Philippines.
But it was there. When the time came to
uncover it it was uncovered.
1t is most unfortunate that in the first
appointments made under the Daniels Sc
lection scheme the President should have
so recklessly emphasized the great fault
Of the new system. IL is subject TO mon
strous abuse when once promotions begin
TO be put in grab bags at the White House,
just as public buildings and river and har-
Dor allotments are put in grab bags at the
Capitol. How will the public ever regain
its confidence in the Presidents ability
20 resist household pressure and TO con
slider only efficiency and the good of the
service in making navy and army promo
tons?
When Mr.. Wilson first took Office he had
kcener sense of the perils of favoritism.
Some subservient Democrats in the Senate
tried TO curry favor with him by heading
"a movement 10 elect his brother as Secre-
tary Of the Senate lie wisely set his
foot down on that enterprise. The secre-
taryship Of the Senate is a purely political
office. It is not legally within the Presi-
dents power 10 give or TO withhold. The
President went out of his way therefore,
in that case. TO avoid 'he appearance Of