The Washington times., 1930-02-10
CITIZENS
URGE NAMING
Of CROSBY
(consinu.d from Page ~

OF having 3 man 10 IlIA etlc OLAACS
who has the necessary qualifica-
tions, irrespective Of his military
or civil status.
When CroshA retires he win be
a civilian so far as the war De
partment is concerned, and will
be eligible for appointment from
civil life as a commissioner, Sec
retary of War Hurley declared
today.
Hurley said he had no interest
in Crosby's appointment other
than to defend the Army against
the implication that because a
man was an Army officer he was
untitled for a civilian position
in the government on his retire
ment. Hurley in a formal state
ment declared that the regular
Army officer is just IS eligible
as a reserve officer or one from
the National Guard, and not
nearly as apt to be called into
active service as either Of the
other two.
The Judge Advocate General
has satisfied him, Hurley said, as
to Crosby's eligibility.
Hurley's Statement
Hurley's statement follows:
Let me speak briefly upon a
subject that is now being c-iven
considerable space in the local
press.
II refer to the Presidents Se'ec-
ton Of Genreal Crosby as a Dis
trict Commissioner. General
Crosby retires on March 81, nexr.
After retirement he will be eligible
for appointment as a District
commissioner. He will be just as
eligible and just as available ior
that appointment as if he were
a reserve officer or a national
guard officer.
HE is no more subject than
the latter to being retired to
active duty. I am speaking on
this subject because some of The
press comment reflect, perhaps
unWittingly, upon the profession
Of the soldier. They raise objec-
tions to the selection of General
Crosby on the ground Of lis
military training. From the
earliest times society has again
and again found that many o.
it's greatest civic leaders among
men Of former military training
and distinction.
Military training instills lead
erShip. discipline. unquestioned
obedience to higher authority, the
entire Submergence of self in the
interest of the common good.
These qualities are as admirable
in civil as in military officials.
Long Honor Roll
TN the generation that fol-
lowed the civil war, civic leader
ship, both north and south, came
more and more into the hands of
the men that fought in that
struggle. So also in the present
day it is coming largely into the
hands Of the veterans of the
World War. The military train
ing did not impair the civil lead
erShip of Hayes. Garfield, Harri-
son, Mckinley and Roosevelt.
1T may be said that these men
were not professional soldiers;
that their military service was
too brief to unfit them for civil
tasks. Let us then call the roll
OF some of those who served in
the Regular Army, and later
gained high distinction in civil
llfe-George Washington, James
Monroe, Andrew Jackson, William
Henry Harrison. Zachary Taylor,
U. S. Grant, Jefferson Davis,
Robert E. Lee.
TO these may be added many
who have been governors of our
states, Senators and congressman,
heads Of our universities and
presidents of our great corpora
| tions.
The welfare of any commu,
nifty, city, state, or nation de.
pendS largely upon the quality
OF its governors. No citizen can
rightly deem himself too emf
nent to serve his community.
nor can any rightly ask that in
his own interest, or in that of
his group, he be given public
place. On the contrary, it is OBJ,
vious that the public good will
| be served best if selections be
made only from men of proven
worth, regardless of their affili-
ationS.
ITO suggest that his military
service has untitled General
Crosby for the office of District
Commissioner is to ignore the
accepted facts of history. To of.
fer technical objections to his
selection. though admitting his
qualifications. is to be unmind.
full of the public good"
Despite the information from
the White House about the ratio
OF letters arriving concerning the
appointment of General Crosby,
and the statement issued by Sec.
retary Of War Hurley, business
and civic organiza lions were 60
ing ahead with plans fc- the
meeting "Wednesday afternoon.
| AT this meeting protests will
be heard against the appointment
Of General Crosby by officials of
n: SineSs anu civic organizations
The Washington Chamber of
Commerce, the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association, and
the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations will be represented.
Possibility OF reorganization Of