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

Il HOwison "a Snmpsonitc:
In common with all decent American
citizens. The Times has hoped almost
against hope that President Mckinley
would insist upon keeping the Schley
Court of Enquiry free from any posi-
bic suspicion of bias or prejudice The
country was pleased with the appoint
ment Of Admiral Dewey as president Of
the tribunal. his known fairness and
absolute integrity rendering it certain
that the Investigation would be thor
oush and impartial as far as he could
make il SO. II was generally hoped
that the other members of tine Court
could be equally relied on to see jus
tice done without fear or favor.
If a statement printed Era the Boston
Record" yesterday be true. in the ap-
pointment of Rear Admiral Howison.
retired. as the third member in place of
Rear Admiral Kimberly. retired. who
was excused from serving, a great in
justice to Rear Admiral Schley
has been perpetrated. and, the
chances are with deliberate puT-
pose. The Record" republish-
ed an alleged interview with Howl
son, who was at the time in command
of the Charleston Navy Yard just af-
ter SChleys great naval victory OF san
tiaso. In that interview Howison was
reported as saying to Sampson belongs
the credit. Sampson is brave. cool,
and intelligent officer. SchIey had the
reputation Of being nervous and hot
headed in the Naval Academy, and he
does not stand high III the estimation
of naval officers as Sampson does OF
the two men sampson is respected far
more"
If Howison used the language attrib-
uted to him in the Record" story it is
unnecessary to say that he is totally
unfit To sit on the Court of Enquiry.
since it is plain that he has pre-judged
the case. and is a partisan OF the per
son Sampson. for whose benefit the
navy ring conspiracy against and per
secution of Ccrvera's cunquerur have
been Matched and pushed for three
years. The report of the interview
probably does Howison 10 injustice On
the contrarp it is likely that his lean
y
would BE- known in the Navigation Blu
-reau. and that Hackett and Crownin-
shield would jump at the opportunity
70 put such an Individual on the Court
Of Enquiry.
The apathy displayed by the Presi-
dent in the face Of the Sampson scan
daI in The Navy Department is causing
more feeling in the country than he
perhaps is aware Of II the charge of
prejudice against Howison is proven.
tina officer should be Immediately re
moved. and without waiting for any
formal objection on the part Of Rear
Admiral Schley- Mr.. Mckinley is max
ing q serious mistake in tolerating he
course which Long. Hackett. and
Crowninshield are pursuing in their
SampsOnidn crusade. and have pursued
all along. II be desires the American
people to regard him as a friend Of JUS
tce he viii lose no time in adopting
drastic measures TO bring back TO the
Navy Department and the service "a lit
tie q the public respect which has been
forfeited by the scandal Longs ad-
miristrauou has been one long and un-
broken series Of bluuders. hypocrisi4s.
chickering's. and outrages upon worthy
and gallant officers. while soft berths
and honCrs have been reserved for pink
ten sailors ana skuIkers. The nation is
fully convinced on this poiut-quite as
much as il is that Hackett and Crown
inshield are unfit men Tor the positions
they hold in present circumstance. +
The appointment Of HOWisou. If ne eI-
pressed the views he is credited with. Is
sufficient evidence in support of that
proposition. They must have known Of
his bias. since it is improbable that the
only time ne ever praised Sampson and
spoke deprecatngly OF SchIey was on
the occasion OF his being interviewed i'm
July, 1895. at Charleston. The Samp-
son clique all know one another.