White Oaks eagle. (White Oaks, N.M.) 189?-190?, 1900-05-03
SCHLEY-- Y--SANPSON
CONTROVERSY.
An-r A Long, bitter Fight the Admin
IstratiOn Yields


raj William Z. Sampson and Rear
Admiral Winfield Scott Schley and
their friends is officially ended
Schlpy is the victor.
Since the destruction of the
Spanish feet at Santiago July 8,
1898, it has divided the United
States Navy, stirred the whole
country and even become a nation
al political question. 1t has in
truded itself into the social. politi-
cal and official life of Washington,
forming bitter factions wherever il
showed itself. Intrigue of re-
markable kiud characterized every
new move made by the leaders of
the fight
On one side, Sampson's, was ac-
lively ranged the whole force of the
Administration, from President
Mckinley and Secretary of the
Navy Long down through the
whole personnel of the navy.
Against these We're ranged men of
political and personal prominence,
men shrewd, persistent, powerful
through their connections, skillful
as dip!omatists, and above all else,
fighters.
These men finally by one master
full stroke convinced the Admins
tration, the President, the Secreta-
ry of the Navy and the army of
lesser officials, that ear-Admiral
Schley could not be further oppos-
ed-oppressed, Schley s friends put
it without imperiling NcKinley's
re. e.election. The Administration
yielded.
SchIey wiL rank Sampson in the
list Of Rear-Admirals, and in a fer
months wiH be second only to George
Dewey ia the United States Nary.
For eighteen months Schley's
adherents kept on the defensive.
Finding that the attacks from Ad-
ministrstions quarters continued,
they decided to change their tactics
and assume the aggressive.
Special Newspaper tdition Of One Copy.
In making this change warfare
dramatic, unique and successful
WAS inaugurated. Gen. Felix Az,
nus, publisher Of the Baltimore
American, is the leader of the
Schley forces. Rear r-Almiral
Crowninshield, Chef of the Bureau
IF Navigation of the Navy depart.
ment, has been credited with par,
tial leadership Of the forces op
posed to Schley.
Gen. Agnus had an eight-page
special supplement- prepared fol
his newspaper, the leading Repub
lican organ of Maryland and large
ly read in Washington. The sup
pl,mcnt dealt wholly with the
Schley-Sampson feud. In detail
it exploited the causes of the Ad
ministration' 5 animosity for Schley
1t contained two striking expos
ures.
One was direct charge agains
Rear Admiral Sampson of counte
nancing irregular accounts in 1888
while Superintendent of the Nava
Academy at Annapolis. The 9th
er dealt with Rear Admiral Crown
inshicId, showing that in lS9'
Rear. Admiral Schley had recon
mended that he be court.martialeC
for incompetency in equipping th'
ship then under his command.
Gen. Agnus gathered officla
documents to corroborate his char
ges against Admirals Sampson an,
Crowninshi,ld, the chief foes q
Schley A single copy of tn
right-page supplement was print
ed; then the plates were remove
from the press and locked up fo
future use If needed
This single copy Wds taken
lroshiuyto" by Ge". .4g""s and
RcpUbiioR Senator and-the Wort
Is informed piIced upon the DIES
Of President McKiHicy. Gen. 4.
..... ..J.,.I. a.. ,,.a ..tu,Io Of IIo .,,I