The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-05
The ChnndIer-Evnns Anair.

Secretary Long must be cursiug his
unlucky stars for bringing the stormy
petrol. the Hon. William + Chandler,
down upon him, when every body sup
posed that restless individual to be
safely started on twenty-years' sleep
over the Spanish claims. As a matter
Of fact he was. until Swearing Bob"
Evans woke him with a stunning blow
from his sailors I.og-C that made the
ex-Secretary open his eyes, and sit up
and take notice.
he took So much that he wrote his
successor. Long, a letter. in which he
denied statements concerning him and
his administration Of the Navy Depart
ment. contained in Evans book, and
charged that explosive sailor with
conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman" No doubt Mr. Chandler
thought that Mr.. Long Immediately
would order the offender under arrest
and court-martial him the next day,
carly enough to try. convict, and cash
Ter him before dinrer. Nothing of the
kind happened. however. Long char
acterized the matter as trivial and.
later. is reported as saying that the De
partment would not take any action in
the premises. adding that if the late
statesman had a grievance he could
take it into the civil courts and get it
laundered there.
Mr. Chandler is not the sort of man
10 allow the Sampson clique or their
leader to whistle him away. Every
80,
him is aroused and if Long. Hackett.
and Crowninshield laugh derlsively and
say things profaneIy Of him over high
balls with Evans. he has ways and
means Of getting even There is Con-
gress. for example. He still has friends
on the Hill Probably most Of his old
colleagues who helped him 10 shut Sen
ator Clark out on a memorable Occa-
sion. would favor him to the extent Of
getting after the salt water author with
an investigation. That, Of course,
would raise the whole question Of
Longs naval administration and If that
Individual thinks he could afford to
have such a matter gone into, no one
else outside Of his own encourage is
likely 10 agree with him.
II must be said that the Chandler in
cident places Mr. Long in an embar-
RAISING position. He and Hackett and
Crowninshield would probably risk a
good deal rather than offend Evans.
who Is counted as a SamDsonite and
may be useful at the Schley Court Of
Enquiry. Aside from that considera-
ton, II would be Inconsistent for the
. Secretary 10 discipline a subordinate
for conduct unbecoming an officer ard
a gentleman" when others have been
and are encouraged 70 commit offences
coming within that designation on
every day Of their lives. Sampson read
( and approved the scUrrilous language
/ Of MacIay's attack on Admiral SchIey
What kind Of conduct was that2 How
would a reasonable person term Crown
inshicld's treatment Of Captain Parker
! No. il would never do TO break all the
4 preoedents that have been established
| since Long began mis- mad career as
/ Minister Of Marine. Mr.. Chandler will
/ have TO guess again and carry his woes
/ elsewhere.
II is thought that he viii appeal 10
I Nj ACINlH4tS, Dul ne ought 10 KNOW
I better than 70 try that. Probably ne
would be told that he should consider
his life tenancy Of :he Spanish Claims
! Commission as payment in full OF all
demands, including what might be
! charged against him in print IN the
end, he viii doubtless find that Con-
! Rress is his one chance. Resort TO that
| body would delay his vengeance fOI
some months, but the Chandler variety
Of anger does not cool with the lapse
| Of time. He Will be just as fun OF
/ wrath next December as he is now.