The times., 1899-03-18
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Conspiracy Against Sch1ey.-

NEWS AND UOSSIP.
The Conspiracy Against Sch1ey.-
| Inc latest move on the part of the Navy
| Department ring to have Admiral Schley
brought betorei a packed board and sum-
marily retired on the ground of mental in
capacity or some other cause. no matter
how trivial, is unfortunately in keeping
| with the treatment the hero Of the battle
| OF Santiago has received at the hands of
/ these worthless ever since he succeeded in
| destroying the Spanish fleet under the
| command of Admiral Cevera off Santiago
Harbor last July. While there is no serious
! apprehension among the friends of Admiral
| Schley that the plotters will succeed, 1t
| viii be due to no lack of desire or effort
on their part. There is decided impress
| sion abroad, and it is not confined eX-
| cluslvely to military or naval circles, that
the Sampson ring in the Navy Department
have lost their heads completely. No
| sane person certainly in view of the re-
cent exposure and discontinue of the
Sampson gang would advise a continuation
OF the petty war against Schley. Ordinary
| discretion or common sense would sug-
Sest waiting policy at least. The mem
| bers OF the Sampson contingent ought to
realize the utter futility of making an
open fight against Schley at this time.
That some of the Sampsonites have at last
had this fact hammered into them was
made evident yesterday by the labored
statement given out at the Navy Depart
ment to the effect that the Department
ala not intend in any way to discriminate
| against Admiral Schley: that the examina-
ton ordered for him would be similar to
that which every officer would be subjected
| under the provisions of the Naval Person
mel bill before he could obtain his promo
| uon This is some distance from the
truth There is not the slightest doubt
| in the mind of anyone who is at all ia
mlliar with the situation that the members
OF the Navy Department ring have been
racking their alleged brains for some time
to devise plan to get rid of Schey and
punish him for knocking them out in the
Senate. As the case stands, the Depart
ment ring is thoroughly discredited 1t
mas been held up to ridicule and its mem
| bers naturally feel their position keeply
Before the matter is finally disposed of,
however, the chances are that they will find
| themselves in more embarrassing posi-
tion than they are now. AS soon as Presi-
dent Mckinley returns to Washington il
| is SAID that all the facts relating to Admiral
Schley's case will be laid before him. and
Ne VIII be asked to put an immediate stop
TO the disreputable game that is still going
| on IN the Navy Department to under
mine the admiral. The friends of Admiral
Schiey are determined to bring the Samp-
son crowd up with a round turn. For
| bearance they believe in this instance has
| ceased TO be virtue. Mr. Mckinley will
! De compelled TO declare himself on one
| side or the other and in the light of the
overwhelming public sentiment in favor of
ADMIRAL Schley. he is not likely to decide
against that officer. The matter has reach
ed crisis. While it is beyond the power
OF the ring to reduce Schley in rank ex-
cept by regular court martial it still can
SUBJECT MIN to many petty annoyances
| which ought not to receive the sanction of
the Administration for an instant.
Looking for John Sherman.
story Is going the rounds in Administra-
ton circles which is said to be the imme-
date cause for his retirement from the
CaDinet about year ago On the day that
congress formally declared by resolution
tnat a state of war actually existed batween
this country and Spain, a couple OF close
friends OF the President called at the State
department to see Secretary sherman
lhelr business was urgent and importapt
II IS stated, and it was necessary for them
TO meet MIR. Sherman at once Not find
ing MIN at the State Department or his
| mousse they repaired to the White House
and made enquiries of the President as To
/ ~ onei man prooaOle whereabouts. Mr.
Mckinley could give them no definite in
formation on the subject. but he sent for
trusted messenger and instructed him to
assist the gentlemen in their hunt for the
secretary OF State. After a long search
iastlhs several hours. Mr.. Sherman was To-
Gated in the house of one of his tenants
They found him down on his knees hard at
work trying to repair certain damages 10 a
stove range. Mr. Sherman was not aware.
| IL Is sald, that war had been declared. and
| was disposed to question the accuracy of
the report that his visitors brought to him.
The facts were duly reported to Mr. Ne
klnley, and the next day. in as delicate a
| manner as possible, he intimated to Mr..
! sherman that he would be pleased 10 re-
| ceiye his resignation. This is the Admins
tration version of the affair The friends
OF Mr. Sherman may have another story to
| tell later.
Roosevelt Has TroubIes.-Govarro
Roosevelt is not having plain sailing at
| Albany. Quite number of Senator
Piatt's boys have jumped over the traces
and are openly defying Roosevelt. As
| they happen to be members of the State
Senate and practically hold the balance of
| power in that body it is not difficult to
understand that they are in a psoition to
make great deal of trouble The police
| Dill, and, in fact, most of Roosevelt's pet
reform measures, are being held up and
| there is apparently no chance to get them
| through unless the kickers can be whipped
back into line. The situation is rather
| embarrassing for Roosevelt. Senator Plat
is in Florida rusticating and the legisla-
| ture VIII probably adjourn before he le-
turns to the Empire State. Roosevelt can
not appeal TO Senator Plat, except at long
distance. which is always unsatisfactory
to make his men behave. and there is a
! sneaking suspicion that Mr.. Platt is Sc
| cretiy conniying at their insubordination.
| Governor Roosevelt. his friends say. has
made the discovery that the members of
the New York Legislature are harder to
manage than his regiment of Rough Riders
| The incident is interesting as Indicating
| that Senator Plat has not forgiven Roose-
welt for forcing him to take him up and
nominate him for Governor last autumn.
| Some interesting developments may be ex-
pected at Albany within the next few
| weeks.
| Central American Morals