The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-26


nifty In his treatment Of the general Of tho
army. lns treatment OF the general at the
White House within hearing. and practical.
ly in the presence of nifty others, is with
out parallel, while his letter Of rcprimnnd
Othe president wrote the letter which was
signed by Secretary Root is acknowledged
10 be much more severe than the facts
warranted.
Blunders in Beratng Miles.
The presidents sincere friends do not
pretend to understand him They acknovl
edge that he has made hlunder and are
regretting 1t. They be evcd that when
the Miles interview was brought to Tho
presidents notice he would follow the Gus.
tom which has become an unwrltten INV
In Washington by accepting the lieuten
ant generals explanation aud letting the
matter drop. They were led to believe
this because of the presidents personal
prediction for doing unusual things. The,
recall his own INSTRUMENTATION at Santiago.
wheh In violation OF the stfic;es- rules Of
mi itary regulations he got W his now
celebrated round robin" protest against
American soldiers being held in camp at
Santiago. - He did that without securing
authority to do 1t from the commanding
general of the American forces
Military men unanimously declared that,
even though bis motives were patriotic. he
was guilty of INSTRUMENTATION and ought to
have been contaminated. He brought the
war department, and In fact the whole Me
kinney administration into disrepute with
the people. The presidents blographers and
admirers have studiousy and continuously
used this episode of his career as an argu.
ment to prove his fearlessness and indie
pendencc. Perhaps In the future they VIII
view the Miles episode to prove his eccep.
tricity. There was much talk about court
martiallng Colonel Roosevelt for that
round robin letter. Officers Of the regu-
lar army. regardless Of their views as to It's
necessity, We're unanimous in their con
demnatiou Of the colonel of the rough rid
crS 1t so happened, however, that It
struck popular chord and met with pub
! lie approval. President Mckinley. who al
ways kept in close touch with public sen
tlment, quietly renressed the resentment
OF the war department and declined 10
permit Colonel Roosevelt to he Courtmar.
tailed. He knew that it would be unpopu.
lar to institute proceedings Of this nature
| against public idol.
President Roosevelt did not view General
Miles breach of army regulations in the
same calm aud judicial manner that presi-
dent Mckinley regarded his own in the
I summer Of 1888. He permitted himself to
ny into violent temper ans. brushing
dignity and reserve aside. gave al len Il
two public exhibitions Of his temper. ole
when he verbally reprimanded the leuten-
ant general In the executive office nj the
white house and the other in the letter Of
reprimand promulgated by Secretary Root.
Becomes Military Martinez
The man who In 1898 Kicked hole
through military tradition and Law has
suddenly become a military martinez Some
Of his friends are advancing the theory
that he acted after careful delbcrauon
for the purpose Of siencng further agita.
ton Of the Sohey scandal II they are
right the president seems to have under
taken big job and tn have begun IT in
most undiplomatlc and undignlhed man
ner. There is hardly any reason to doubt
that bis reprimand Of General Miles was
| Intended Ia be warning to Admiral Dew.
! ey. whose pen the naval conspirators fear
more than they do public opinion. They
! feel that they are safe from public opin'
| lon with the president to stand between
them and popular wrath. They have learn.
ed that Admiral Dewey dlSsented from
every feature If the verdict Of Admrals
Ramsay and benham and that in his dis,
| cussions Of the evidence with Ramsay and
! their verdict he repeatedly Informed his
| colleagues that It was his belief that Adj
miral Schley was the victim Of n con
! spracy. and that the consprators were
mon Identified with the navy department.
The big financial interests Of New York
| are disappointed over the presidents cnVn-
! lier treatment Of Secretary Gage. They
| wanted Gage to remain because. according
! to their views, he has been n discreet an ]
safe secretary Of the treasury. They I'M
| derstand that the president practically
| forced the Chicago banker out of the cab
| met by combination Of cavalier treat
mcnt and adrolt notification. If Governor
| Crane declines Judge Taft's chances will
! appear TO be much brighter.
Long and Roosevelt Quarrel.
! Secretary Long says he has not resigned
! and that he has no intention Of resignlng
| He made this extraordinary announcement
| to the editor of a Boston newspaper who,
! having heard Of Yesterdays events al the
! white house. believed that the secretary
after refusing to promulgate the Maclay
order had rendered his resignation to The
| president. II is becoming known that the
secretary of the navy and the president
had q violent quarrel over the Maclay af
| fair. Mr. Long contended that the yer
dict Of the court was such sweeping
condemnation Of schley that to order tbs
| discharge or Maelay mlght ne construct
! by the public as executive condemnation
| OF the court The president persisted, how
ever. that Maclay must 60,
Secretary Longs course may mean tna'
he viii force the president 70 ask for nj,
resignation. He understands that he is mol
| wanted In the cabinet any longer Even II
| the. president desired TO keep him Senator
! Lodge would he insistent for his retire
ment. because while he remains In ms
cabinet he Is a menace 70 Lodges ascend
ancy In the republican machine OF MassG
chusetts The secretary used 10 he re
! publican boss Of the Bay State. He may az
! tempt 10 regain that position after NJ
| leaves the cabinet and II he should be sue
cessfuI II seems reasonably certain that
| the next Massachusetts, delegation VIII not
| be a Roosevelt delegation.
Paynes Enemies Are Active.
II is becoming apparent in Washington
that the presidents first selection OF cabi
net officer was not happy one from the
standpoint OF harmony. Mr., Payne, wl'
| is to succeed Postmaster General smith
has vigorous and influential enemies u
! Wisconsin who are already organizing t'
resent his elevation to cabinet plaee
These enemies have been eireu%tlng ~
| sorts OF stories about Mr.. Paynes eondue'
| ~, ,,nttfee Thor nra pudeayOrinE 10 us