The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-25
He MEANT NO CHALLENGE
Simply Wished Howison Given Chance
to Explain.
HIS PRIVATE AND PUBLIC UTTERANCES
One Would Affect His Qualifications as Much as
the Other. Captain Parker Declares He
Must Have Been Misunderstood
nv Hackatf
by Hackett,
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, August 2i.-Acting Secre-
tary of the Navy Hackett today received
the reply of ADMIRAL Schley to the letter
recently submitted to him by the depart
ment declining to question Rear Admiral
Howison as to the authenticity of the al
legged interview with him rejecting upon
Admiral Schley. The reply was sent to
Captain Lemly, judge advocate of the
court of inquiry. This means that so far
as the department is concerned. further
action of the Howison incident will not be
taken that being left to the court. The
correspondence is as follows:
Washington, d. c., August 21st, 1901
"Sir: /. i have to acknowledge the
receipt of the departments letter of this
date in reply to my communication of the
10Th instant.
2.-While it is true that one of my
counsel Captain Parker, in reply to an
inquiry made to him, did give his personal
opinion of the several rear admirals on
. the active and retired lists, amongst
whom was Rear Admiral Howison. | am
assured by him that he believes the Sec
Of the officers named would be perfectly
satisfactory to me. Captain Parker's con-
versation was had at time when nothing
was known of the alleged interview as
published in the Record
'3-In my letter of the 10Th instant,
l expressly stated my opinion of the
high personal character of Rear Admiral
Howison, and / avoided any expression of
opinion as to the truth of the statements
made in the newspaper clipping, which |
enclosed.
Alt was with the desire to avoid
the necessity of making formal chal-
lenge that / requested the department
to lay before Admiral Howison the state
ments that he is alleged to have made,
AID thus give him the opportunity to take
such action as his sense of the propriety
of the occasion might suggest
81 therefore respectfully state that
the department has not plaed the proper
construction upon my letter when it treat
ed it in the nature of a preliminary chal-
lenge for cause. / ould not challenge for
cause until ] discovered there was a
cause, and the object of my communica-
ton, as is evident upon its face, was to
ascertain if Rear Admiral Howison had
made this statement You VIII observe in
this connection that in his original
statement he says 4 have made no pub
lie utterane relating to this subject. |
submit that hi sprivate utterances would
affect his qualifications as much as his
public utterances and my request was only
to have this alleged interview submitted
for his consideration.
Every respectfully,
CIV. S. SCHLEY,
"Rear Admiral Il. S. n.
"To the Secretary of the Navy Navy De-
partment, Washington, d. c."
Navy DEPARTMENT, August "a, 1901.
''Sir: The receipt of your letter of the
21st instant, explanatory of what was de-
signed by your former letter of the 10Th
upon the subject of the competency of
Rear Admiral Howison to sit as a mem
Der of the court of inquiry convened at
your instance, is acknowledged.
very respectfully,
IF. w. HACKETT,
Acting Secretary"
''To Rear Admiral Winfield S. Schley,
United States Navy"
Under the direction of Judge Advocate
Lemly the list of witnesses to be sum-
moned before the Schley court of inquiry
is being prepared. An incomplete list
will be sent to Admiral Schley not later
than next Wednesday. 1t is probable
that other witnesses will be added to the
district before the court convenes.