The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-10-16

Washington, Oct. 16-A local publica-
tion, in commenting rather severely on
the attitude Of the government trial Of
of1cers before the Schley court Of in
quiry said Judge Advocate Lemly's name
ought to be Necessity, because necessity
KNOWS no law. Lemly has cut poor fig
ure before the court. The day Senator
Chandler attended the inquiry he re-
marked with his usual attention to de-
tail that neither Lemly nor Hanna, who
is assisting the judge advocate general,
had ever tried case in a court of law.
Certainly the conduct of the navy's legal
officer and the assistant attorney general
has justified Chambers remark. No two
men could have made worse showing.
They have put their case before the court
in jumbled, disorderly manner, without
paying the slightest attention to sequence
or effect. There was but one exception to
this method of conducting the prosecu-
tion, and that was the bringing forward
OF Potts on the day of the admiral's re-
tirement from active service to testify
that Schley was a coward.
Lemly apparently had an inspiration on
that day. Throughout the entire pro-
ceeding, he has been ill tempered, highly
excitable and apparently incapable Of stat
ing legal proposition in an accurate or
intelligent manner. He has a high,
falsetto voice, which he raises to an ex-
treme pitch when he loses his temper, and
1t jars harshly on the nerves of every
body within its range. Crowinshield and
Chadwick discerned weeks ago that Lemly
and Hanna were destroying their we'll
laid plans to impeaeh the professional in
tegrity of Admiral Schley and have been
straining every point within their grasp
to introduce SIMPSONS and their own
lawyer, Slayton. in the case. Apparently
Lemly consented to Slayton's coming in.
Perhaps he had to do SO or suffer the loss
Of his soft job in the navy department.
Admiral Dewey, however, had views of
his own regarding the introduction of
Samps1's lawyer into the proceedings.
The admiral penetrated the motive of
Chadwick and Crowninshield and en-
phatically ruled Slayton out. He was of
the opinion that there were enough law
yers in the case.
Chandler Back In the Navy.
The latest rumor of change in Presi-
dent RooseveltS cabinet is contained in
special from Washington to the Chicago
Chronicle, which says that former Senator
William E. Chandler of New HampshiIe
may succeed John D. Long as secretary of
the navy. Mr.. Chandler was secretary of
the navy under President Arthur and
made a record which has been eQualed by
only one of his uocessors-William G.
Whitney, who was President Cleve-
lands first secretary of the navy. Mr..
Chandler is chairman Of the Spanish
treaty claims commission.
Senators Lodge and Frye and other close
PERSONAL and political friends of the presi-
dent have strongly urged Mr. Chambers
selection as secretary of the navy upon
the ground that he Is one of the few men
in the country who have the necessary
experience and courage to take UP and
deal with the extraordinary conditions
that exist in that department The dis
closures of spying insubordination, disor-
ganization and department politics that
have been made by the Schley court of in
quiry through the admissions Of naval Of
f1cers who have been witnesses before
that body have caused the president a
great deal Of concern. He wants to begin
the work of reformation on scale and in
a manner that will assure the public and
congress of his sincerity and at the same
time prevent congressional investigation
of the department which might further ex-
pose It's shortcomings.
It is believed that the president will
demand Secretary Longs resignation very
soon after the Schley court of inquiry
concludes its work, if the secretary does
not resign voluntarily before that time.