The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-14

conflict among the officers in the navy
in the greatest battle of the war, the
greatest battle of modern lines, because
it demonstrates the characer of the men
and vessels that were engaged in it, and
there is no doubt in the mind of the
American people who is entitled to the
credit of that victory. But there are
people who are trying to steal away
from Schley the credit of the glorious
triumph he won on the Sd day of July,
1885,
In this connection, Mr.. Berry read the
following poem amid a whirlwind OF
laughter and applause:
SAMPSON OR SCHLEY?
when the Spanish fleet with full head
way
Dashed out of Santiago bay.
Taking the chances of death and wreck,
Who stood on a Yankee quarter deck
And marked the game with eagle eye.
Say was 1t Sampson or was it Schley?
''Who was it when shot and screaming
shell
Turned Sabbath calm into echoing hell?
Steamed into the thickest of the fray,
His good ship leading all the way,
While the roar of his guns shook earth
and sky,
Say. was it Sampson, or was it Schley?
'In American hearts, who holds first
OF those who claim part in that glorious
chase?
Whose name stood out on that proud
day,
AS the hero of Santiago bay?
In letters of gold, write that name on
high,
Shall we write it SAMPSON or write it
Schley?
BERRY SAYS SCHLEY.
II say it should be written Schley,"
continued Mr.. Berry. 81 then say that
there should be a provision of law that
whether it goes to SchIey or Sampson,
Shn la fn nn
men who have won that glorious
achievement, but that the provision for
prize money ought to be wiped off the
statute books. 1 say the men who made
that magnificent charge at San Juan
hill, in all aspects of this case are as
much entitled to take Santiago as a re-
ward for their services as the men who
sunk Cervera'S ships
In response to a direct question, Mr.
Meyer (Dem., Lao said the committee
would offer an amendment to repeal the
law giving prize money to the navy.
His statement was generally applauded.
Later Mr.. Berry alluded to the situation
in the Philippines. He had not decided
he said, how he would stand on the
proposition to annex those islands, but
he wanted it distinctly understood that
the backing Aguinaldo was supposed to
be receiving from Germany would have
no weight in affecting his opinion. 1--WE
may yet have to whip Germany, as we
did Spain,' said he, amid great ap-
plause.
After some further remarks by
Messrs. briggs (Dem., N. W and Dins-
more Dem., Ark.) in favor of the bill,
the general debate closed and the bill
was read for amendment under the five
minute rule.
Mr.. Bailey Dem., Tex.) objected to
the abolition of the rank of commodore.
Our greatest sea captains, he said, had
held that rank in the hour of their VIC
tor1es-Perry, Jones, Farragut, Schley
and Dewey. American traditions chung
about the title of commodore, and he
was opposed to it's abolition to meet
the social distinction of foreign powers
and foreign courts. 1t might only be
a sentiment, but he preferred an Amer
lean sentiment to the etiquette of a for
eign court.
Mr.. Dayton explained that the title
of commodore was unknown abroad,
and that on state occasions they did
not know where to place a comm odore.
''They may not know where to place
an American commodore at the dance"
interposed Mr.. Bailey, but they know
where to place him in battle"
Without completing consideration of
the bill the committee arose.