Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-13
POLITICIANS TOLD
TO keep HANDS OFF.
WIRES BEING PULLED IN EFFORT
TO LAND COMMISSIONS FOR
RESERVES IN TRAINING.
sAkER SAYS RECORDS
MUST sE TAKEN As FINAL
Charges u Faveritism Expected on
PubIication u Lists Of Men Gaining
Commissions Those Assigned 70 Re-
serve Corps TO 10 Commissioned For
Five Yssrs and Subject 70 Call After


serve Corps TO 10 Commissioned For
Five Ysars and Subject 70 Call After
rBy p q. Dougherty.l
washington, Aug. 13-In connection
with the publication today of the list
Of reserve officers commissioned at
Fort Sheridan, the first training camp
in the west whose successful candidates
are announced. Secretary Baker has
served notice to politicians to keep
hands off the reserve officers lists.
Several Iowans were commissioned at
the Fort Sheridan camp. but the bulk
OF the Iowa list have been given COM
missions at Fort Smelling.
Iowans at Fort Sheridan commission
ed were:
Paul X. Ayres, second infantry, Iowa
National Guard. captain infantry; Ross
N. Carroll, Des Moines, second lieuten-
ant infantry: Paul ". Eels, Ames, Sec
ond lieutenant field artillery; Junius
s. Roberts, Des Moines. and Edwin s.
Elder. Keokuk, second liteutenants
field artillery.
Secretary Baker called halt on the
politicians seeking to influence APP
pointments to the officers reserve corps
when within the last few days he re-
ceived an avalanche Of mail from in
fluential men all over the country urg-
ing the appointment Of men in whom
they were interested. For several days
Secretary Bakers reception room has
been crowded with members Of the
senate and house there to make person
al requests for commissioning sons of
their constituents.
; In every case Secretary Baker has
stood pat. He has told all his callers
and written all his correspondents that
the list of appointments made by conf
V will remain unchanged.
Charges Of Favoritism Anticipated.
TO men who wrote him in behalf of
men at camps Secretary Baker mailed
a form letter; which inclosed copy
Of confidential instructions sent to
commanding officers Of training camps
governing selection Of reserve officers.
The new officers were selected in ac-
cordance with these instructions, the
secretary explained, and being so Sc
iecte dhe would not Interfere with the
selections.
Charges Of favoritism are anticipated.
Where so many men are turned down
It is anticipated there will be loud OBJ
5ections. But the war department has
decided to stand pat on the selections
made at the training camps under the
merit system. leaving changes to be
made In future II the officers selected
fal TO make good In camp.
The Officers named rank from the
grade Of major down to second lieuten-
ant. Later at the second camps. which
open Aug. ~. II IS hoped TO get mate
rial for some Of the higher commits
stoned posts Of colonel and lieu
tenant colorel. The only chance FOR
the politician win be to land
one Of these higher commits
sions II enough men are not obtained
at the second training camps, but the
army staff officers are fighting the poll
iticians to the limit Of their power and
are insisting on younger trained men
rather than more mature men Of no
training.
The appointments are in several
classes. The war department has ap-
pointed some men AZ officers in the
national army and others az officers
in "the infantry section Of the officers
reserve CORPS" or whatever branch of
the reserve they are to be assigned to.
Reserve ID Permanent.
In explaining these distinctions. the
war department says:
"Omcers graduated from the train
y Ing camps are appointed to the off,
cers' reserve CORPS because they will
thus become available for war. They
win be detailed from the reserve corps
to command units In tho national army
or regular army. but ct the conclusion
Of hostilides WIN be retained in the
reserve corps and returned to the in
active list,
Those officers appointed directly
from the training camps to the ma
tional army win be mustered out after
the war, and win not be automatically
available In the event Of any subse-
Quent need.
"The war department has, therefore,
adopted the policy Of appointing to
the officers reserve corps the men
whose age permits and who are other
wise satisfactory. The maximum age
limits for appointment to the officers
reserve corps are: For major. As; for
captain, 40; for nrst lieutenant, SO; for
second Lieutenant, 80. There Is no age
limit for appointment Of officers to the
national army"
This means that the men who. are
given reserve commissions are not only
subject to service during the war, but
win be subject 70 call at any time
S thereaftee.
Some 70 Servo Only For War.
Men who are merely appointed for
national army commissions will be
mustered out when the present emer-
: Eency - over.
Most OF those directly assigned to
the national army are past the age
limits ret for the reserve corps.
Il y believed that all men who are
given commissions will be called into
service at once at the cantonments to
open Sept. 1.
HOME GUARDS IN EARNEST.
Council Bluffs Company Made UP Of
Men Of All Ages and Stations.
Special to Times-Republican.
Council Bluffs, Aug. 1G. Have, you
! home guard In your town." ! Pa
triotic Council bluffs people ask this
Of every stranger with rising infiec-
~ Hox, inn