The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-25
President Orders PeremptOry
Discharge of Historian
Who Was Largely Responsible
For Schley Inquiry.
HIS BLUFF DIDN'T GO.
Tried to Hide Behind Civil Ser
vice Regulations.
President Says Charges Are
Known UnofficialIy.

Washington, d. c., Dec. 25.-Secretary
Long has discharged Edgar Stanton
Maclay from his position as a skilled
laborer in the Brooklyn navy yard, Mr..
Maclay having refused to resign when
requested to do so. Mr. Maclsr. is au-
thor of a naval history, and in it's last
volume sharply criticised Admiral
Schley and denounced him as a sscaitiff.
poltroon and coward"
Secretary Longs action was taken by
direction of the president, and followed
a conference between the president and
the secretary, who took to the White
House with him a letter from MacIay
in response to the request for his resig-
nation sent by the secretary last Sat
urday In his letter Maclay submitted
that ne could not be removed or COM
PEELED to resign without definite charges
being made against him and without
having an opportunity to answer those
charges. Although the civil service
rules gives employees of the public ser
wee the opportunity to answer charges
that may be preferred against them. the
president exercised his prerogatives in
the present instance and directed
Maclay's removal, it being held that the
latter was aware, unofficia1ly, if not Off
clally, of the reasons which actuated
termined upon.
Secretary Long said the action taken
would dispose of the case finally.
Mr.. Maclay's letter to Secre taryNI4ong g
ton is as follows:
Navy Yard, New York, Office of the
General Storekeeper, Dec. %, 1901
Rear Admiral Albert s. Barker. u. s.
N, Commandant Navy Yard. New
York
Sir: 1 have the honor of acknowl-
edglng the receipt of your communica-
ton of this date in which YOU forward
the following communication of this
date from the secretary of war:
i am directed by the president to
nc-l
general storekeeper's office, navy yard,
New York, to send in his resignation
I respectfully submit that I was reg
ularly appointed to my present position
after having duly passed a clerks ex-
animation in accordance with all the
requirements of the civil service regula-
t1ons, and therefore can not be removed
or be compelled to resign without
definite charges being made against me
and without having an opportunity to
answer those charges. 1 have been in
this office fifteen months, have been
promoted for efficiency and so far as
know, my work has been satisfactory
to my superiors / have violated no
rules or regulations of this office or OF
the navy yard, so far as 1 am aware.
Such being the case, 1 feel that it
would not only be an injustice to myself
to resign under such circumstances but
It would be establishing a precedent
service employees, both national and
state. Very respectfully yours.
EDGAR S. MACLAY''
Secretary Longs dispatch to Rear
Admiral Barker directing Maclays re-
mova1 was as follows:
washington, Dec. "a.
ITO Rear Admiral A d. Barker U S.
N, COmmandant Navy Yard, New
York
BY direction of President. Edgar s.
Maclay is discharged. Notify him
LONG"
MACLAY STILL HANGS ON
New York. Dec. 25.-When seen f his
home and informed of his dismissal
from his position in the navy yard by
President Roosevelt, Edgar Stanton
Maclay said:
Il have written to the civil service
authorities at Washington, asking for
a formal opinion on this subject shall
be guided in my actions by the advice
received from this source"