Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-04
FAULT WITH CONGRESS.
HOW 1T COMES THAT HOBSON,
CLARK, AND OTHERS HAVE
No REWARD.
THE EXECUTIVE HAS FAILED
To ENLIST THE SYMPATHY OF THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
A Letter From Secretary Long to
Senator Morgan That States the
Case CouciseIy and CIearly-For
More Than Two Years the Officers
and Men of the Atlantic Squadron
Have Been h

ana wen OF the
Have Been Snubbed.
WASHINGTON, February 3.-Secre-
tary Long addressed the following let
ter to Senator Morgan:
Dear SENATOR have your letter
with regard to Lieut.. Hobson, Captain
Clark and others, and to the failure OF
the government to recognize their SER
vices. | need not say to you that no
one feels this more keenly than myself
or has done more to endeavor to secure
justice for the men who conducted
and consummated the Santiago naval
campaign. will you let me say that
the delay is not with the executive
branch of the government so much as
with Congress. l do not say this to
in any way shift the responsibility,
but in the hope that the cooperation OF
Congress may yet be secured in this
respect. With the interest which you
and other members of the legislative
feel in the case l do not despair.
1T is more than two years since the
President sent in nominations for pro-
motion, and these nominations have
never been acted upon by the Senate.
At each session Of Congress | have
prepared and submitted bills, asking
for rewards for these officers; no ac-
ton has been taken upon them. In
each of my annual reports I have urg-
ed the matter with all the force pos
sible, but it attracts no attention. The
President has asked for the creation OF
the grade of vice Admiral. which would
perhaps lead to a solution of the mat
ter.
Il feel keenly the lack Of any recog-
milton to Hobson. whose feat is ia
nous the world over. | have repeated
ly talked about him with the Presi-
dent, who, as you know, feels the most
cordial interest in behalf of all these
men. He cannot separate Hobson':
case from the rest, o can l advise
him to do so. 1t would be an unjust
discrimination against Captain Clark
ito whom you refer, and who is two
numbers worse off now than if there
had been no war; it would be an in
i,r+;oo m +hA. ~ q NJ ar in -nhinf whr
planned and c-orsummated the whole
campaign and who had a greater re.
sp%onsibility upon him for a Longer
time than any officer on the Atlantic;
it would discriminate against the en-.
listed men, who have yet had neither
thanks nor medal, nor any recogni
ton, and are Inundated On the decl
of every warship on which their ship.
mates who served in the Asiatic squad.
ron display their medals, and the San
tiago men have none. I feel almos
like invoking the help of yourself an(
! every other Senator and representa-
tive to what seems to be the simples'
justice.
Not content with what has hitherto
been done. it was only a few days ago
that l wrote a letter to Senator Hale
chairman Of the Naval Committee o
the Senate, a copy of which | enclose
asking him if he would not, as a las
resort, have the Naval Committee, o,
a subcommittee OF it take up the mat
ter and consider the report upon tn,
deserts of these officers.
Yesterday. l wrote another letter K
the President. copy of which l enclose
, reciting recommendations which
made 10 him in my annual report o
1899, that he make the same recommen
dation to Congress in the case of thu
Santiago squadron, which was made II
the case OF the Asiatic squadron. viz.
That the thanks Of Congress be tend
cred to the commandments ant
be extended through him to the off
GERS and men.
y think you will cordially acknowl
edge that the President by his speed.
nominations for promination has beer
prompt and that this department ha.
left no stone ~unturned to do justice il
this matter and that it is now for Con
gress, of which you are so distinguish
| ed a member. to act. Trusting tina
we may all cooperate, and at last Sc
cure to these officers and men an ex
preston OF the Country's appreciation
of their service, l am,
Very truly yours,
JOHN D. LONG"
Met Rough Weather.
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