The Washington times., 1901-08-31
Circulation Statement.
The HoNNison Letter.

Navy Hackett gave out the personal
correspondence between himself and
ftear ADMIRAL Howison, retired, on the
subject of the Boston Record" inter
view, in which the latter is represented
as having INDUCED in reflections upon
admiral Schley, while lauding the Ma
tanzas mule man TO the skies. Howl
sons letter to Hackett will strike the
country as about the most amazing pro-
duction of its kind on record. 1t does
not evince the slightest appreciation of
the delicate position the writer is in be
fore the country. and it amounts TO a
request 10 be retained on the court, al
though Howison knows that the senti-
ment of the American people is against
his serving in that capacity, on account
of suspicious that he fails to remove or
TO modify. In his personal communi-
cation TO Hackett. he admits in a gen.
eral way that it was his wont to talk
with newspaper people who would visit
him when he was in command of i'm
portant stations" that at the Charles
town Navy Yard included. Then. by
way of preamble to his explanation, -
he says:
~ nen the news OF our navy success at
Manila and again at Santiago reached Boston, the
people there were not behind the rest of the
United States in giving honor and praise to the
navy, and to the commanders-in-chief of the
fleets.
The enthusiasm of the population in praise
and honor for the officers and men engaged at
Santiago lasted for some time, until later, when
the troubles commenced as to where the credit
and honors should 90 for the success OF this
engagement.
''It is no news to the navy to say that where
all do their duties, the first honors for success
go to the officer III chief command. Censure for
failure also belongs to him.
We note with interest that in the
above remarks Admiral Howison
makes no allowance for credit to any
body but the chief" 1t
does not seem to him to signify whether
that officer may have been within a
hundred or a thousand miles of a battle
for which the honors are reserved for
him alone. The man in actual COM
nand, who directed the evolutions of
the squadron OFF Santiago. took the
lions share of TIE Spanish fire, and
whose flagship inflicted the major part
of the injury sustained by Cervera's
vessels, is not considered worthy of
thought All credit must rebound to
the person who illegally acting as a
gunboat rear admiral in command over
his superior officer. steamed behind the
horizon on tie morning of July 3, after
being warned the night before that
Cervera was getting ready to run out.
Comins, down to the matter of the
Boston Record" interview. Admiral
Howison thus delivers himself:
This newspaper cutting in question contains
statement in which IL is said that | made
comparison between Schley and Sampson,
favorable to Scbley.
THE word respected used by the reporter
is seldom never employed by navy men N
comparing the qualities possessed by Officers, and
! am sure ! could never have said this as he
ports. nor said that Schley had the reputation
Of. being nervous and hot-hcaded in the Naval
Academy.
~One may say an officer stands higher in his
class IL true; another may stand higher in scien-
tifc attainmentS while another be distinguished
for eminent diplomatic and social qualities
while all under discussion Of good standing
and proficient in their necessary professional
calling.
Il have no recollection Of the gentleman repre-
senting the Boston Record and | do not approve
Of his public statement mine.
Il cannot say that / have not discussed with
acquaintanees matters published in the newspa-
pers relating 70 our navy's success as well as the
unfortunate disputes widely commented on.
There few or persons in the navy or
these newspaper articles.
Howison does not approve of his
public statement as mine," meaning the
statement of the Record" reporter
He does not denounce it as false, and
nowhere in his letter does he disclaim
the sentiments it attributes TO him
Throughout he lodges the issue as care
fully as possible. acknowledging that
In private conversation, he has dis
cussed the Sampson scandal with his
friends and acquaintances. Negatively
he displays his bias and prejudice in the
most unmistakable manner, and ac-
lively he shows a most ardent desire TO
be retained on the tribunal-a desire so
strong and strange in the circumstances
as TO suggest the strenuous inspiration
of the Navy Department. Subjoined
are the closing paragraphs of Howl
sons astonishing communication;
''From the papers ii appears that Admiral
Schiey has strong doubts As TO my fitness 10 fair
ly Judge this with Adnirals Dewey and Ben
ham.
AS it is a case Of grave importance 70 those
concerned and 10 the country, | am desirous Of
giving my little help 10 clear away the troubles.
The duties Of members OF courts-martial and
courts Of enquiry are not sought or desired by
officers.
"while | feel highly honore1i by the depart
inent's selection Of myself for this duty, it is
anything but pleasant task TO sit in Judgment
brother officers
However the honor Of the selection ncr the
unpleasantness Of court duties do not enter into
the reasons for my now writing to say TO yOu
personally, three things. namely:
''FirSt-To YOU that | not respon-
sible for and did not give out such interview
rs is alleged in the dispatches from Boston
and stated in the newspapers 10 have been
mentioned by Admiral Schley in a recent letter
TO the department.
''Second-H, however, the department feels
that the OF the navy and of justice will be
better served by relieving from duty the
court, ] am entirely ready to withdraw v0lun-
tarily, to have the department relieve
upon its own initiative.
.'Third-If. on the other hand the department
knowing all the circumstances desires that
should perform the duty, entirely ready TO
oath, DO my duty as member Of the court with
out partiality,' as the law requires"
II Admiral Howison had scanned 1.-The
papers" more closely, he might have
discovered that any doubts concerning
his fitness to sit on the Court of En-
quiry that Admiral Schley may have
entertained were more than shared by
the American public There is nothing
in the text OF his letter to dispel such
doubts. In fact. when read between the
lines. 1t is calculated to create the i'm
preston that he is, what the country
now generally considers him, distinctly
preJudiced Sampson partisan.
Admitting the doubts as to his quail
dcation, Howison Is still indelicate