The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-04
DELAY IN REWARDS FOR NAVAL
OFFICERS WHO DESTROYED
CERVERA'S SHIPS
REPEATEDLY URGED BY LONG
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAS
DONE ALL HE COULD TO
PUSH MATTERS
NOMINATED TWO YEARS AGO
And Those Nominations of Officers
Named for Promotion Have
Lain In the Senate Unact-
ed on Ever Since.
WASHINGTON,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3-Secretary
Long has addressed the following letter
to Senator Morgan:
Dear Senator-1 have Your letter with
regard TO Lieut.. Robsin, Capt Clark and
others, and to the failure of the govern
ment to recognize their services. | 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. VIII 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 re-
spect- With the interest which YOU and
other members of the legisla tive branch
feel in the case. l do not despair.
1T is more than two years now since
the president sent in nominations for pro-
motion, and these nominations have never
session of congress l have prepared and
submitted bills, asking for rewards for
these Ot1cehS. no action has been taken
upon Them. In each case of my annual
reports have urged the matter with all
the force possible, but it attracts no st
tenuoin- The president has asked for the
creation Of the grade of vice ADMIRAL.
which would perhaps lead to a solution
OF the matter.
THEIR JUST DUES.
Il feel keenly the lack of any recogni-
ton to Robson, whose feat is famous the
world over. | have repeatedly talked
about him with the president, who, as
You know, feels the most cordial interest
IN behalf of all these men. He cannot
separate Hobson's case from tie rest
nor can | advise him to do so. 1t would
pc an uLtJst discrimination against Capt.
ClarK, te Whom you refer, and VINO is
Two numbers worse off now than if there
had been no war; it would be an Injustice
to the cOmmander-in-chief who planned
lg,1 ed f}1A ooln
and who had greater responsibility upon
nllr TO" longer time than any officer en-
the Atlantic; it would discriminate against
the enlSted men, who have had nei her
thanks nor medal, nor any recognition
and arc Inundated on the deck Of every
We hip on which their shipmates who
serVe> IN the Asiattc squadron display
~'eir medals, and the Santiago i4ien have
none. | feel almost like invoking the
heip Of myself and every ether senator
and representative TO what seems to he
the simplest justice.
Not content with what has hitherto
been done, it was only a few days ago
mat wrote letter to Senator Hale,
chairman of the naval committee Of the
senate, copy of which is enclosed, ask
ing him if he would not, as a last re
sort have the naval committee, or a
subcommittee of it, take up the matter
and consider the report upon the deserts
of these officers.
Yesterday l wrote another letter to
the president, copy of which I en-
N1OEts, iOSitlilS which l
made to him in my annual report of 1899
that he make the same recommendation
to congress in the case of the Santileo
squadron which was made in the case of
the Asiatic squadron, viz: That the
thanks of congress be rendered to the
cLnrnander-in-chief, and be extended
through him to the officers and men.
- think you will cordially acknowledge
that the president by his speedy nomin-
atoms for promotion has been prompt
and that this department has left no
stone unturned to do Justice in this mat
ter and that it is now for congress. of
winch you are so distinguished a mem
Der, to act. Trusting that we may all
cooperate, and at least secure to these
othcers and men an expression of the
countrys appreciation of their services
l am very truly yours.
John D. Long