Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-24
SENATOR SWANSON
WANTS THREE STARS
Virginian Declares Commandant
of Marine Corps Should
Be Elevated.
"ROCKING-CHAIR HERO" TALK
Expected to Blaze Forth Again
When Senate Considers
Insignia Bill.
"ROCKlNG- CHAIR HERO" TALK


W.aSIiiNGTON. June 2:s--Wha,.s Tho
United States Senate going 10 do to.
moro" about giving a lieutcnan,-
generals three blazing sta.s to Ma;,r.
General George Barnett. commandan nj
or the marine corps?
Indignant that thc House refused n
elevate :he chief Of the Soldiers of
the sea" last week. the Senate con
fetces on the avail bill viii ask their
own body tomorrow 70 meet the House
action with unqualified defiance.
Senator Swanson. ~ Virginia. acting
chairman OF the Senate Naval Affairs
Committee. and one % the conferecs.
does not fear tho result lie believes
the Senate Will stand squarcly back
Of ii. corfcrcos
iiu, there is small doubt that the
charges OF rocking chair heroes" and
bomb proof jobs" hurled last week in
air. even il tho confcrccs do put over
successful vote for the amendment
the Senate has already once sanctioned.
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels does
not consider it :. military necessity
that 'hc marine corps co.nmandan,
should receive the higher rank. The
.ccrctary's views, however. do rot ap.
pear to matter much TO the confcrecs
Whether IT'S Il military necessity or
not, can't see why the marines should
be deprived of this honor said Sen.
ator swanson to day.
And We arc going TO fight to the
las; ditch for it.
There has been q lot ot talk about
this rank being given TO General Ear
nett Who said it WAS intended for
General Barnett alone? That's absurd.
It's intended for the commander of
so,c0o men, whoever ke may happen
TO DC.
CAN rICN MAS TO
WEAR THREE STARS
1T docs not have 10 be General Far
nett The secretary and the President
have the right to pick any man who
is lighting in France or any man in,
the corps elsewhere and make hir,
commander. |, does not have to ne
General Barnett, or any oihcr particd-
lar individual
The marine corps commander should
have tho same rank as the head Of
any army corps. It's not fair other
wise.
70 tho life OF me. 7 can't see why
ihc marine corps should be refused
this. don't suppose any ono will
question that 'hcy have been tie best
American fshtins men 10 go over the
:op'
This is = temporary appointmen for
Tho period of ;hc war NC have tenn
porary generals ir the army and tenn
porary admiraIs in the navy. Why
can't We have temporary licuton-
nt-Ecneral in the marine corps:
And as far AS General Barnett Is
personally concerned all this talk about
his having spent ali his tirlc III staff
work is rot. Hes line officer. and he
has had his service with the line. 1t
is only al this time that he is placed
in command o: the corps for four years.
''But the President can put anybody
else in. ] say again. this rank is not
given TO General Barnett AS some OF
the House critics assert, but to the
man at the head Of the crack iGh,inS
corps which both houses of Congress
have asrc,I to raise to more than
5000 inci."
senator Swanson commented that the
House vote on tho Barnett issue sue
cceded By a majority OF only twenty
nine and there we're not moro than
onc-auarter II the House members
present when it was taken.
lie would net make predictions on
Il further House vote.