The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-08-22
SCHLEY COUNSEL WANT TO KNOW.
They Want Facts in PurpOrted HOwisOn
Interview.

attention of the Navy Department to
the interview in a Boston paper in
which Admiral Howison expressed
certain views very decidedly in favor
of Admiral Sampson, and as adverse
to Admiral Schley, and asking the de-
partment to learn from Admiral How
ison if the interview is authentic, was
received by Acting Secretary Hackett
this morning. Mr.. Hackett refused
to state what action he had taken, if
any. 1t is fair inference that Mr.
Hackett has consulted Secretary
Long and that he will be directed by
Mr.. Long to forward to Admiral How
ison letter asking categorically if
the interview is authentic and seek
ing to ascertain, if it is not true, why
Admiral Howison has not repudiated
it long ago.
1t was understood at the depart
ment when Mr.. Hackett announced
several days ago, that Admiral How
ison had been selected to succeed Ad-
miral Kimberly, who declined to
serve, that the Acting Secretary had
received from Admiral Howison a
letter explicitly stating that he had
not expressed an opinion on the
Sampson-SchleY controversy. 1t is
remarkable that Admiral Howison
should have forgotten the appearance
of the interview in question, and it is
most unfortunate that he completely
ignored it in his letter to Mr.. Hackett.
A copy of Admiral Howison's reply
will be sent to Admiral Schley, whose
counsel will then decide on their next
step. 1t must not be understood that
Messrs. Wilson and Rayner are pro-
testing against Admiral Howison as
member of the court of inquiry. They
were careful to state yesterday in
their interview with Mr.. Hackett that
they regarded Admiral Howison with
high respect and that they had all
confidence in his integrity. Never
theless their professional duty to their
client, Admiral Schley, compelled
them to ascertain if any charge that
one of his judges in the coming trial
had expressed an opinion harshly ad-
verse to him, was true. Under the
regulations governing the procedure
in court OF inquiry, the right is re-
served to Admiral Schley to chal-
lenge any member of the court.
The assurance is given by friends
of Secretary Long that he will dis
pose of this matter himself, and that
Mr. Hackett will be merely the pub
lie medium. 1t is stated that if Ad-
miral Howison in his reply to the let
ter from the department does not re-
pudiate the interview thoroughly and
decisively, Secretary Long will forth
with relieve him from duty and ap-
! point another rear admiral whose
fairness is beyond dispute, and the
name of Rear Admiral Jouett is al
ready mentioned AS Admiral Howl
sons successor.
The department also received this
morning the letter from Admiral
Schley demanding to be supplied
with copy of the governments list
of witnesses. The letter is written
in firm tone and asks this list as the
well-established right of their client.
| Snarnfa 10 al l.; :,
letter to Captain Lemly, the Judge
Advocate of the Court, who is still
out of the city. Captain Lemly will
return next Monday, when he will
proceed to make up his list and
promptly supply Admiral Schley
with copy.
Admiral Schley and his counsel,
Captain Parker and Judge Wilson,
held another conference this morning
at the Shoreham Hotel which lasted
until 12 o'clock. Several papers of
Importance were gone oyer and a
number of points brought out. Mr..
Rayner is in Baltimore. He will re-
turn to Washington ON Thursday,
when other developments in the case
are looked for. In the meantime,
Judge Wilson and Captain Parker
are hard at work on the case, outlin-
ing the general plan for the conduct
of the Admiral's defense and arrang-
ing evidence.
Admiral Schley's popularity was
never more completely demonstrated
than by the enormous amount of
mail which has poured into the
Arlington since his arrival here. 1t
has been years since patron of the
hotel received so many letters and
packages as are being delivered daily
to the Admiral. Many of the letters
are from strangers, and contain earn
est expressions of good will and hope
for success. Admiral Schley sees few
callers. He still declines to make
any statement of his case.
Mr.. Hackett's interview with the