The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-19
.SCHLEY'S FRIENDS PROTEST.
THEY DON'T LIKE HIS ASSIGNMENT TO
THE sOUTH ATLANTIC STA TIoN.

| senator wellington and Gov. Lowndes of
Maryland, the Mayor of Baltimore and
Con. Felix Agnus Call on the President
Their Attempt to Make n Political Issue
of 1t IL Condemned In Naval Circles
Bchisy Does Not Join In Their Protest.
WASHINGTON. Sept 1S.--The expected pro-
test by friends OF Admira! Schley against his
assignment to the command OF the South At
lantic naval station was made directly to
President Mckinley to-day by four OF his sup
porters. They are Senator Wellington. Gov.
Lowndes OF Maryland. Mayor Master Of Balu-
moro and Gen. Felix Agnus, proprietor OF tho
Baltimore American Each OF them made a
short speech to Mr.. Mckinley telling him that
Schlsy should have a more desirable assign
ment. They eaid that tho people OF the country
had the idea that Schley was not receiving fair
treatment. and suggested that his assign ment
to tho South Atlantic station be changed to
something which would be more acceptable to
schley and would remove that impression.
They said that they did not come from Admit
raj Schley whom they had not seen or heard
from since his orders were issued.
The President told the delegation that he
didn't want the people to get the impression
that Schley was being ill-treated by the Navy
Departn emit and didn't think such u statement
was justified. but he promised to look into the
matter. Senator Wellington declared some
time ago that Maryland would be lost to the
! Republican party II schley was not treated
better by the Administration. He and other
members OF the delegation we're asked after
they left the White House il they had said any
thing-like that to the President to-day. They
were evasive. but 1t is fair to assume from
what they did rav that sepator Wellington told
the President practically ybnt he Ind said in
the neyspapsrs about the effect OF the sobley
case on the political animation in MARYLAND
Considerable a.tonishm emit was expressed in
naval circles when It became known that
Schley's friends had endeayored to mike a
political issue out OF his assignment to the
| command OF the South Atlantic naval force
and sought to bring political pressure to bsor
! on the President TO baye his preliminary order.
| rescinded. There ia no svmpathv with thi.
sort Of thing felt in the Navy. either among the
| officials of the department or among oflcers
generally. This feeling may be accounted for
| by the fact that with n few exc.ptions schl.v'.
| conduct ofy tho soutb coast NJ Cuh, 1. con.
demped tbrougbout tho sorxios Tn ,,ct onix
| two officers of high rank are known To sympa.
| tbize with sohlsv in his atteupt IN frustrsta
| the desire Of the presidsnt and the sscr.tarv
| of the NAVY to rev,rd Admiral samnson for
! his distinguished oonduct In the Vast India.
durinr the war with Spain
Imnortant dutv b,. been oiv.n both NJ tbes.
of'oers One NJ than hold. what is consid-
| sred nv many off,cera IN ha thu most d.sira hls
| dstnu in tho Gift NJ tho dsn,rtmsnt and thu
| other has nosition NJ honor which 4, unioue
in the history Of IN, naval ,ervics Ther.fore
the oman disnlav n, dis.u,t in naval circls.
| over the ottsmnt a, scblav,s frienda to dictoto
| IN. duty to which be sb,Il be os.igned n,v be
| attributed 10 the Judgment previouslv formed
| ~ bis conduct or, tho .outb co,.t ~ Crb. and
| bis suhsaouent attemnt to tesn evervhodv
| from hsing r.warded for ssrvices rsndared in
| Nh. Wet Indi,n naval oamnaion untiI S.b,ov
| md got THAT ba wanted Tbis f.e,in. Ia
| .h.red NOT or,x nv sunnortar. q, s,mnson
hut ,lmost without s,caption nv tbo.s who
bavs hesn close nsrsonai frisnds and sbIn.
mate. NJ schlsv,s On3c.rs who h,ve tho
Linde.t f..linps Tor hin, nsrson,,,v do not
b..it,te to cond.mn bis conduct in th. var
| 70 tho pr.sid.nt grant. tho r.ouast =,
| sohiax,. ,r,enda bx dir.ctip, th.t liz ord.rs
| Tor ,.a duty hs vithdr,vn great m,nv
| onlcers will be nlea..d II ia contended that
schley 4. not entitled TO sea duty having al
! ready had one souadron to command under
hin flag commission. while bin Assignment n
| another will keep some Rear Admiral from
| ever living his pennant It's tbe nolicv NJ tho
NAVY Department 40 to arrane. II that every