Arizona republican., 1901-11-01
FRIENDLY TO sCHLEY
4 Charge Which Has Been
 Made Against Dewey
His Resignation From the Metropoli- tan Club Construed As a Resent ment of Charges Made Against Him.

Washington, Oct. 31.-The resignation of Admiral Dewey from the presidency of the Metropolitan club, coming in the midst of the Schley inquiry, has given rise to the report that it was caused by the criticism. made by members of the club. of the rulings of the court of which Admiral Dewey is president. It is said that the comments on some or the rulings of the court have been very bitter and that Dewey and his asso- ciates have been charged with favor ing Schley.
 By the admirals friends it is as serted that the resignation is not due to any friction in the club. They say that his time has been so much occu- pied with the duties of the court for the last month that he could not at tend properly to his duties as president of the club, and so resigned the office As the work of the court is almost completed and as the presidency of the club was never a very exacting posi- ton, some other reason for the ad- miral's resignation must be sought than that given by his friends.
 It has not been noticed generally by those in attendance on the court that it's decisions have been so favorable to Schley as to excite criticism, although it is true that in almost every instance where there has been a controversy, the position of Schley's counsel has been sustained. In most instances those disputes have involved questions of little importance. Only one of the courts decisions can be said to have any serious bearing on the presentation or the case That was the refusal of the court to allow Admiral Sampson the right to be represented by counsel in order to defend himself against the imputations of Schley's counsel upon his professional conduct Had the scope of the inquiry been broadened so as to cover Admiral Sampson's conduct as well as Admiral Schley's, the friends of Sampson believe that the principal line of Schley's defense would have broken down. In addition it would have brought into the case legal talent of which the department has stood sadly in need It happened, however. that the judge advocate opposed the admission of Sampson's counsel SO that the court cannot fairly be charged with bias-in. tsf,,sing it ss- .-
 The decisions of the court have been apparently fair and impartial. The impression prevails, however that Ad- miral Dewey leans rather to the SchIey side of the case. That impression has been caused. not from anything he has said, in private or from his conduct as a member of the court, but because there is a great deal of Schley feeling in his immediate family and social circle, and because it is known that ne has no friendly disposition to Admiral Crowninshield, the head of the bureau of navigation. Admiral Dewey would net consciously allow himself to be in- fiuenced by other circumstances, and perhaps the impression is incorrect.
 Admiral Benham's family connec- tions, it is known, are all with Schley, and yet Admiral Benham is the one member of the court who in the ques- tions he has framed has brought out the most damaging testimony against Schley. There are a grear many naval officers in the Metropolitan club, and with few exceptions they are strongly opposed to, Schley. Any development in the court at all favorable to Schley excites their resentment and gives rise to enlivening controversies in the club. A great deal of criticism has undoubt- edly been leveled at the court, but whether that is the cause of Admiral Dewey's resignation nobody but Ad- miral Dewey knows. and he will not tell.