Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-05-30
When Pershang Was Made
Br1QQdler
George MacAdam in the Worlds Work.

In September 1905 Captain Pershing re-
turned to Toxic and took up the duties Of mill
itary attache. The following year. two mpor-
|, tant events came in quick succession. On Sep
born; on September 20, President Roosevelt
made him brigadier general.
Then came the storm! A veritable torrent
OF indignation and denuncaton! A captain
had been Jumped to the rank of brigadier
general People forgot Pershing's long years
in the Philippines. They forgot that almost
three years had elapsed since the president
urged congress to change the law governing
army promotion so that it would be possible to
reward an officer without at once jumping him
to the grade of brigadier general" and that dur
ing those three years congress had taken no &C
ton. They also forgot series OF presidents,
series to which Representative Burkett called
President Roosevets attention, three years be-
fore, when Burkett was urging Pershng's ap-
pointment as brigader general.
Upon investigation (wrote Burket) l find
that among the officers who have been raised
to the grade of brgadier general from the
grade of captain are the following: Gen. Leon
ard Wood captain medical corps, more than
49l seniors; Gen. J. F. Bell, captain cavalry
more than 1851 seniors, and Gen. William Gro
zler, captain of ordnance, more than 493 seniors.
The Jump" of General Bell is especially large,
and perhaps unprecedently, yet l have never
heard OF criticism being offered. Among
the younger officials who have been promoted
recently General Carter had received prefer
ment by appointment into the staff, otherwise
he would have jumped, at the date of his pro-
motion, more than 3a officers and General
Bliss would have jumped more than 547 seniors
Among those who are mentioned for promotion
to the grLde of brigadier general is Captain Mill
who, if promoted now, would jump more than
$50 seniors"
The many critics only remembered that
Pershng was the son-in-law of Francis E. War
rem, chairman Of the senate committee on mill
tary affairs. His promotion, they declared, was
fragrant example Of pull
In answer to such criticism, Roosevelt said:
10 promote a man because he married SEN
ators daughter would be an infamy and to re-
fuse him promotion for the same reason would
be an equal infamy.'
Senator Warren wrote to Roosevelt saying
that he thought this expression was capable of
lnisconstructon.
Dear Senator Warren: 1t does not seem
to me that the quotation in question is capable
of msconstruction whether taken apart from
its context or not. Your son-in-law was pro-
NOTED SO strictly on his own merits that l had
al jolutely forgotten that he was your son-in-
law until received your letter, Even now,
cannot remember whether he was married to
your daughter or engaged to her at the time he
won the victory because of which I promoted
him. My impression is that he was not vet
married to her. In any event, the promotion
was made purely the merits and, unless I
am mistaken, you never spoke to me on the
subject until had announced that he was to be
promoted. The article that you enclosed from
the Washington Herald is tissue of malicious
falsehoods 1t is not a case of man writing
under erroneous mpre ssion it is case of
man being guilty of malicious and willful I'M
truth. Faithfully yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"