The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-07
WAR IN CAMP.
Trouble Between Gen. Harrison
and the Administration.
His Sons Discharge Brings the
Matter to Public View.

Chicago, Jan. 7.=WaIter Wellman
wires the Times Herald from Washing
ton as follows:
There is war between the Mckinley
administration and former President
Harrison. The famous Hoosier is seri-
ously aggrieved, and he has written
letters to some of his friends here COM
planning because the administration has
as he alleges sought to affront him.
General Harrison says he believes the
discharge of his son Russell from the
army and the assignment of his former
private secretary, Elijah Halford, to
duty in the Philippines were intended
as revenge upon him for his frank ex-
pressions of opinion concerning the
Porto Rican legislation and upon the
question of the constitution following
Some OF General Harrison's friends in
the senate cham Der take his view of the
situation, and it is understood that
these friends are putting obstacles in
the way Of an early passage Of the army
reorganization bill, in which the presi-
dent and his secretary of war are so
vitality interested.
General Harrison, according to these
friends, does not care so much because
his son Russell was discharged and
sLige' Halford was sent to the Philip
pines as he does for the apparent mo-
tive behind these acts. This motive,
this attempt to strike at him through
his proteges, he resents and announces
his intention to fight back. Republican
senators who sympathize with General
Harrison in his grievance say President
Mckinley is not to be blamed so much
as are some Of his subordinates, who
probably issued the orders as to Rus
sell Harrison and Elijah Halford with
out the presidents knowledge.
Colonel Russell Harrison hasaspent a.
good deal of time about the senate
chamber of late. and it is said he had
received and has shown to number OF
senators several letters from his father
sharply criticising the Mckinley adj
TninistratiCn and asking that justice be
done. Colonel Harrison wants a court
of inquiry to look into the circumstances
attending his discharge. His record in
charge Of an important work in the in
spector generals department in Porto
Rico is said to be excellent
No charges were made against him,
nor was any complaint ever heard as
to his discharge of his duties He was
not even discharged in the usual course
Of business, but the order to relieve
him went from Washington by cable
After he was let go there was some talk
in the newspapers, and in explanation
officials of the war department said
Lieut. Col. Harrison had been dis
charged because there was no further
need of his services in the post which he
had occupied. Yet Colonel Harrison
claims that another officer was promoted
to take up the duties which he laid down
and to fill the place of this officer
son of Justice McKenna of the supreme
court was promoted from second
lieutenancy to major and sent to Porto
Rico.
rather bitterly upon the fact that the
son Of the former president is suddenly
brought home from Porto Rico Wnlle
the sons of two associate justices OF the
supreme court, which is soon to decide
the great test case of the power OF con-
gross over territories, are sent out to the
same island with good appointments
Col. Harrison says further more that
he 1ac c6 a since
arrival in Washin gtOn- He has not been
shown the ordinary cOurtesies- He finds
it exceedingly difficult to get at the pro-
per officials when he attempts to secure
a hearing with a view to having a board
of inquiry appointed to look into the
circumstances attending his discharge
It is further claimed that he was denied
admission to the reception at the White
House on New Years day upon his
ground that he was not an officer of the
army, but a discharged officer
Col. Harrison's friends say he is the
son Of one president of the United
States and the great-grandson Of an
other. and that he is therefore entitled
to some courtesy. His appeals to sena-
tors for help have been made upon the
ground that he is the son of a former
senator and his wife the daughter of an
other former senator, Mr.. Saunders of
Nebraska, and that the affront put up
on him is in a way an affront upon the
senate itself. Mrs. Russell Harrison was
for a fortnight the mistress of the
White House during her father-in-Iaw's
term, and yet she has not been invited
to the executive mansion during her
present stay in the city.
Tt is not denied that certain war de-
partment officials want to punish"
Gen. Harrison for his attitude during
the campaign For several weeks the Re
publican managers tried every way
they could think of to get Gen. Harrison
to come out and say something for the
ticket, and when he did speak at last it
was with a sneer. There is no doubt of
the fact that administration officials
were highly displeased with Gen. Har-
rison's lukewarmness, and on this ac-
count there is a suspicion that the or
ders concerning Col Harrison and Pay
master Halford had sanction in circles
higher than some mere underIing of the
war department.