Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-11-05

I-arnestl: aS | had opposed Mrkin-
icvs economic views as presented in
the tariff of 1890 and
Independent wnilc then ut NarianC,
support with him on the gen
Large raj administrative
policy of his party. |
arncstly supported his election over
Mr. Bryan. and the Philadelphia Times
With which was then connected rs
.hief editor. joined with half 4 score
Or more promincnt public journals ar
leatly devoted Ia tariff reform IN ad-
vocatin his election. No m@n ever re
c.ived more independent support out
sid. of his party than was given to
Mckinley in the contest Of 1896 Many
Of the ablest tariff reform leaders h"
lieved that the question Of 4 sound
financial policy was paramount. and
without opportunity OF condition of
any kind tney "tve the victory to
Mckinley. When hc was successful
they asked no political favorS NJ his
hands indeed. rs rule. they held that
they could not consistently accept oti-
cial reward for the independent SER
vices they hal rendered. ana that
brought m. into somewhat close and
certainly very pleasant relations with
him durin@ his presidency. | saw him
many times in the White House and
was always delighted At I'll" cordial
welcome Il" gave and his frankn"Ss in
the discussion of al questions Of public
interest. Having no personal ends t.
serve and no political friends to press
lii l. -i,l,
freedom. and l acver visited Washing
ton Without enjoy ing rhc pleasure of
1 visit 10 III" President.
I never had occasion to dis uSS with
him any question with raln"Sin.rS cT-
crptins several times "hcn COM
planned nf the attitude exhibited by tn"
navy department toward Commodore
Schl"y. lie always epoiI" very kindly
If Scnl.y. ana certainly he meant to
or both kind and just He gave
Schl"y full credit for his valor in the
naval battle Of Santiago but assumed
that as Sampson was commanJor-in-
chicf and at least constructiv"ly en-
gagged in the conflict h was cu,i,led 10
b" prcmot". over his second officer
II" expressed doubt as to the efficiency
of Schl"y'S early blo"kad" of Santiago
to which | answered that If Schlcy had
pccn guilty Of anything before the
battle of Santiago unworthy Of =. COM
iuand"r of his rank to critcisc him aft
or be had been permitted 10 remain
and fight and win tho bath would be
only to criticisc the president as COM
EIandcr-in chief and the secretary Of
the navy ana Rear Admiral Sampson
In later interviews. after hhc Scnat.
had developed an overwhelming ma
j"rity against the promotiont of Samp-
son over Schlcy. he made no }colnploint
Of the action Of the Senate but ad-
hcre4 TO HIS belief that the command
er-in-chief of the squadron Engaged in
the battle should reap the highest hon
ors. lie said he felt as kindly to Schley
as he did to Sampson: that he had
romna ted both for promotion because
of that feeling; that he had selected
tilcm as representatives of the navy a,
the most important state Girner Of his
administration. given to The Paris
peace commissioners: that he had
sent Sampson at the head of a tribunal
to take charge OF Cuba and superin-
tend the retirement OF the Spanish
troops. and had sent Schlcy with
equal honor TO Porto Rico: that he
he'd no sympathy whatever with thoso
who sought to dcfamc Schley or to
make an issue between the two naval
COMMANDERS and he closed by saying
that he vas prepared to have Schley
assigned to the command of 2 squad
ron. At the last interview / had with
him on the subject he sent for Admiral
Schlcy within an hohr after I left
hicl. and | learned from tho ADMIRAL
with whom | JinNd that evening. that
hc was to be assigned to the command
OF the South Atlantic squadron. with
the Brooklyn rs his flagship.
On one Of these occasions he in
uured Of ne whether it would not b.
we'll 70. Schlcy to ask
for court Of inquiry. Emph"sr
20 which l answered "n
that Schley could not schieS Case
DO so in justice to
himself for the reason that unless the
nav" department was overruled he
could not get an honest court. To this
the President replied with emphasis
that he would see tc it himself that
Schlcy should have an entirely impair
tial court is he desired an inquiry. !
remembered distinctly that he asked
the question. Would not Dewey do?
Would not Watson DO" | sad. yes
II" then added that he would permit
| 10 inJus'ic" to hc done to any officer
oi the American navy by "A court Of in
ariry. and ne thought that | vas un-
| 1uSt in assuming ;hat the navy depart
neit WIS ready to be q party to in
! justice to Schlev. I answered that if
| ne would look at th. action Of the de-
pertinent III ordering two subaltarns