The San Francisco call., 1896-04-22
The Soldier Who Took Posses
sion of California Has a
Clean Record.
EVIDENCE AT WASHINGTON
II Is Now Certain That the Jubilee
Celebration at Monterey Will
Take Place.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALI
QOS Broad WaV nril %

which he fully exonerates Commodore
Sloat from all the imputations that have
been poured on his character.
1.-The Sloat Monument Association of
California Is composed in the main of
veterans of the Mexican war who desire to
commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of
the taking possession of California by the
raising of the American flag at Monterey
on July 7, 1916, by Commodore John D.
Sloat of the United States navy in pursu-
ance of orders of the Secretary of the
Navy, which were faithfully carried out
both in spirit and to the letter." said
Major Sherman to-day.
I'VE anticipated no opposition to the
appropriation asked from Congress to
mark this historic event, which formed
part of that brilliant series of victories of
the American arms of 1867 and which,
by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, added
an empire in territory to our national
domain. But it seems that one George
Edwards, whom l do not know, nor care
TO know, IS opposing the measure and
persists in trying to defame the name of
Commodore Sloat, whose honorable and
brilliant record is without stain or tarnish
in the wars of 1812-14 and 1S4647
Commodore Sloat made his plans, kept
his own counsel and arrived July and
carried out his orders. He held no council
OF war with Mr.. Edwards or any one else
He performed mis- duties faithfully and re-
ceived due praise and merited hanks from
the Secretary of the Navy and the record
Is carefully preserved. Senator Perkins
tells me that he has received another let
ter from Edwards and incloses a copy OF
his (Senator Perkins) reply. 1t is COM
plete and official eXoneration of Commo-
dore Sloat's fame. Here it isl:
March 80, 1895.
George EdlUardS Esq, 2550 Dwight tUay, Berke-
ley, Cat.-MY DEAR SIR: Your letter inclosing
one from Henry /. Oak, relating to Commo-
dore Sloat ives received to-day.
l must confess that l am at loss to under
stand the opposition, which seems to come
from one quarter alone, TO the proposed monu-
ment at Monterey. The statue is TO commem-
ofate great event which even Bancrofts his
tory cannot questionable act OF taking posses
sion OF vast territory In the name OF the
United States, in which the critics now live /
am glad to say, however, that only one or two
voices have been raised against the plan which
! hope will be carried through, and the statue
erected without due delay.
Although tie previous conduct OF Commo-
dore S.oat has no bearing upon the fact that
the United States took possession of California
on given date, which action is 10 be com
memorated II may be well to again point out
fnat n there are among the records of the Navy
department no documents rejecting upon
that officer in connection with this matter In
fact the report of the Secretary of the NAVY
December ,, 1916, saws of the manner in which
S-oat carried out mis- instructions that he cob
served the line of conduct prescribed to him
with such intelligence and fidelity that no
complaint has ever been made of any unau-
thorlZed aggression on his part" and further
on, alter having availed himself of "a permis-
sion which had been given him, in his itscre-
Ilon, to assign the command TO Commodore
stockton this gallant and meritori-
Gus officer arrived at the seat of governments
Unless the report OF the Secretary OF the
Navy, 10 which refer. and OF which l have q
copy, printed in lS49, is considered to be a
total perversion of truth, it must be acknowl-
edged that the action of Commodore Sloat
ehciteu the praise of the United States Govern
ment- The report also shows that he was not
relieved OF his command for falling health or
for "other reasons" which latter l submit,
even II they existed, it is not the historians
province 10 assume to mean "yacillation
amounting practically to disobed1ence or or
ders." In fact, il seems to me that there has
been, IN the preparation OF that part of the
Bancroft history IN question, too much as
sumption. l will submit that 1.-The belief of
most al that time" is not equivalent to a fact,
and that if Commodore Sloat declined to take
action in the lace OF such orders as he had re-
celVeo untlI he had authentic news of the
commencement of hostilities, ne showed him.
self eminently worthy of the praise which WAS
given him by the Secretary of the Navy and
worthy OF the monument which is to be erect
ed al Monterey.
1t may be OF interest to the writer of the ar
tlele IN the Bancroft history to learn that the
1nOSb NllleeuL SBdrcn DIV Lieutenant HOuQP in
tne archlVes OF the Navy Department has failed
to bring forth any document or reference
which detracts from Commodore Sloat's repu-
tation as faithful officer.
/ would refer you to the official renorts cor-
respondence and data indorsing Commodore
Sloat, to be found in House executive docu-
ments' second session Twenty-nlnth Congress,
volume l, document 4, pages 373 and 379 and
pages to 675 inclusive; also TO House executive
documents, second session, Thirtieth Congress-
volume l, executive document No. l. COM
menclng on page 1OOo Yours very truly,
GEORGE C. PERKINS.
Cut OFF in Youth.
OAKLAND, CAL, April 21.-Miss Fran
ces Burk died in San Francisco Friday,
April II, at the Waldeck Sanitarium. of
malignant jaundice. She was a native
and resident of Chico, but was visiting
friends in this city when her death
occurred. She was 81 years months old
and was graduate of the Smell Seminary
in class of 94. She had many friends
here. The remains were taken to Chico
night for burial. The deceased
was the daughter of Isaac and Cora Burk.
At the Macdonough.
OAKLAND, CAL, April 21.-Peter F.
Night CLERK" comes to the Macdonough
next Monday and Tuesday evenings.
The engagement of Rivarde, with grand
orchestra, next Wednesday will be
notable musical event
Captain Impudeuce" and Friends"
are booked for April 30 and May l.
Green's Large Estate.
OAKLAND, CAL, April 21.-The APP
pralsers have returned the value of the late
ex-Supervlsor John Green's estate at
$oz,9lo i3, The stallion Directum is valued
at $ooOO, put Is now near Lexington. XIV.
a part OF the estate consists of $1,000
acres In Sonora, Mexico. The rest of the
estate Is realty and livestock in Pleasanton.
places in the State.
Schoolboy Missing.
OAKLAND. CAL, April 21-yictor
Hugo Duky, 15-year-old boy residing at
Alb Ninth street. has been reported miss.
ing at the police station. He started to
school yesterday as usual but never reached
there and it is believed he has started ont
to see the world, bnt that he will soon be
ready to return home.
Globe Iron Works.
OAKLAND CAT ADril 81 -Tha nIoL.