The sun., 1917-01-20
'GRAYSON BOOST
LAID TO A PLOT
Examining Board Said to
Have Been Hand Picked"
Against Precedent.
HIS UNCLE A MEMBER
Nomination Is Sent Back to
COmmittce-Rcpublicans
Line Up i3 Opposition.


WASHINGTON. Jan. le.--The surprise
and indignation in naval circles caused
by the Presidents nomination OF pr.
Cary T. Grayson. his youthful physician
and golf partner, TO the post OF Medical
Director. with the rank of rear admiral,
recognized as the prize plum Of the
navy's medical service, were increased
to-day as the result of certain facts
being brought to light showing that un-
usual methods were resorted to by Seore-
tary Daniels to pave the way for the
appointment.
Likewise, when the nomination was
sent TO the Senate yesterday there was
every evidence Of orders having been
given by some one to put il through at
once Il possible. This plan was de-
feated, however. by Senator Jones of
Washington.
The Indignation and resentment felt
in naval circles have now spread TO Con-
Gress, with the indications OF a bitter
fight being made in the Senate, in which
the President and Secretary Daniels will
come in for a severe castigation from the
Republicans. The time honored prec-
edent OF the Navy Department has
been TO have an examining board made
UP of active officers. To have followed
this precedent in Or, Grayson's case
would have required that board be
picked from list OF ia active officers
ahead Of Dir. Grayson. Such board. 1t
might we'll he assumed, would have put
the young Nirginisn to a severe test be-
fore regarding him qualified TO assume
the highest billet in the corps.
Precedent Overthrcwn.
But facts unearthed by THE SvN cor
respondent to-day showed that Secretary
Daniels in Dr. Grsyson's case had over
thrown this precedent and had appointed
an examining board made up of two re-
tired officers and one on the active list:
There Is no law against selecting retired
officers for this duty. but Il has not
been resorted TO for years.
The officers selected for this board by
Secretary Daniels were Medical Director
Presley y. Rixey, retired: Medical Di-
rector John Calvert Boyd. retired, and
! Medical Director Henry T. Lowndes.
DIR. Rixey. the head Of the board. Is
DR. Grayson's uncle. He is also a Nir-
ginian and close friend Of Secretary
Daniels. Medical Director Boyd, the
other retired officer selected, is from
I South Carolina. He is close friend OF
: the Secretary of the Navy. their sons
having taken long trip together out
4 West last year. Medical Director
Iowndes, the only active officer OF the
board. is from Maryland.
/ News OF this boards makeup caused
! astonishment to-day. In naval circles
, it was dubbed a hand picked board. v
! No intimation had come from the Secre-
lnt hner
followed in DR.. Grayson's case, and II
was only when the Bureau of Medicine
and Surgery was called up and asked
for the names OF the members of the
board that its makeup Nas learned.
1t developed to-day that the Secre'
tary's official announcement or w
Grayson's nomination was accompanied
! with a Flowing statement concerning his
personal service to the President anc
his cleverness as young physician Mr.
| Daniels also said that he had "JumpeC
So numbers" though the record shows
that there were ia ahead OF him.
Presidents Attitude.
President Wilson is expected to resen
any opposition in the Senate To I'M
nomination Of his personal friend an'
to make every effort to bring about con
6rmation Of the appointment whethe
the navy likes 1t or not.
That II was plainly tho hope OF thos
who are acting for the ADMINISTRATOR
in this matter to have the nomination
confirmed Yesterday before all the fact
of IT came out would appear to ne lhh'
Gated by what went on In tho senate,
immediately after the nomination mac
hoon rcceiyed Senator Tillman, head A"
tho committee on Naval Affairs. wen
among his Democratic colleagues on TN
committee and polled Them but did no
: , consult the Republicans. In inns wa
the nomination was almost immediatci'
reported by the committee TO the moo
~ the Senate and would have gon
I through had not Senator Jones objected
. Senator Lodge called attention to-ua'
, to the fact that the Republicans on IN
committee had not been consulted. sen
Z ator Tillman then agreed to recall IN
, nomination. II Is now back In the com
mittee again.
The Republicans got together in
formally to-day and discussed the Gray
son appointment and the indications ar
that they will line up almost solidl
!" against It, Opposition developed ais
among the Democrats. One prominei
Democratic Senator denounced the Gray
. son advancement as an outrage. IN
Democrats are threatening, however
. should the Republicans make much q
, a fight, to bring up the Leonard Woo
A appointment.
. Senator Weeks OF Massachusetts. him
a self n graduate of Annapolis. will OF
:. pose the nomination OF Dr Grayson.
Is understood that Senator Weeks
, planning to go into the whole matter {
: naval appointments and TO charge thos
: behind this appointment with having In
paircd n not destroyed the efficiency {
u the service,
h The opposition in the Senate Will proi
!, ably centre on the unprecedented jun
q OF IA numbers, together with sever;
whole grades. Admiral Dewey, II wi
be recalled, was promoted four number
r. as "A reward for the epoch making VII
. tory OF Manila Bay.
y Army Also Angry.
Admiral Winslow was advanced thr'
numbers for conspicuous bravery al
4" service during the Spanish war. ATT
l. he recovered from the wounds while
n came within an ace of costing him h
IL life and after the value Of his servi'
'e was carefully weighed 1t was decide
II that the reward OF three numbers add
u tional for his work In the Spanish WI
'e was justified. Other American office
r were rewarded In kind when their ~
" vice and courage had been put 10 Il
actual test and found deserving.
p General Staff officers Of the arm
:" .h,rad tho nayy's IndipnatIon ov,r tl