The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-07

The country had reason TO hope that the
last involving the dignity or honor of the
navy. but the Chandler-Evans controversy
seems likely to lead to another court of in
quiry. There is less excuse for this contro-
versy because ii does not involve questions
of any importance in establishing the truth
of history and scarcely rises above the
level of a personal "spat,' in which the
ought not to be dignifed by a naval court
of inquiry. The trouble grows out OF a pas
sage in Admiral Robley d. Evans's book
recently published. entitled. "A Sailors
Log" a very readable and entertaining
book. by the way. Books of this kind being
written in a personal, gossipy style. are
apt to contain matter which. when the au-
he had not written. In this case Admiral
Evans says that while lighthouse inspector
he had occasion to protect some of the
lighthouse keepers from assessments for
political purposes and thus incurred the ILL
will of the politicians. who warned him
that he would be punished. The following
passage tells how he was punished and
contains the m which have got him
into trouble:
A certain fellow who had been elected q
delegate to a political convention was NOM
mated TO be lightkeeper as a reward, but
was found so disreputablc upon examina-
ton that / refused 10 pass him. L would not
submit To dictatlon in my duties by a set OF
men quite as diSreputable as the suggested
keeper. and on this issue l was detached
and placed on waiting orders. Report was
made TO the secretary of the navy that /
was interfering with the political condi-
ton in the Fitch district. and. without ask
ing a word OF explanation from me, | was
punished by being relieved and placed on
half pay. Ii was. OF course, a gross in
justice, and caused no end of CONNER in
the newspapers. but | took ii as quietly as
possible. and have always felr contented
that | was not personally known to the
man who could so far degrade the high Of
flee he held. The navy had, in some ways,
0cSenerated into a JOB lot. at least in the
eyes of those who used IL for their own
purposes and was sometimes let TO a very
low bidder.
Finding myself on the beach. as it were,
because | would not take a hand in poll
ties, rather than because ! mad done so.
and knowing that l would not have en-
ployment again during the time Of the ad-
ministratlon then IN power. 4 asked for
leave for a year. with permission to leave
the United States. In the absence OF the
secretary or the navy the request was
granted. and | was busy making my prepa-
ratiOns to enjoy II when "A telegram came
from the secretary -evoking my leave and
again placing ne on waiting orders. I was
really OF much more Importance than l had
considered myself. and / must be made TO
feel my punishment. However, / had felt
the sting of insects before I'm my life. and
aid not consider them OF much importance.
Now. If Fighting Bob" had stopped to
think he would have seen hat this was
very personal. and II he had thought long
enough to remember that ex-Secretary
William Z. Chandler. TO whom the passage
refers. is a fighting politician OF the most
militant school. he must have seen that the
passage would surely get him into rouble
II would have conducsd to his future peace
| OF MIND II he had revised It with q blue
pencil or left It out entirely. for Mr. Chand-
Ter has preferred charges against the ad-
miral OF conduct unbecoming an officer
anc \ gentleman. and says he Will insist
upon a court OF inquiry. There can be no
question but the language quoted is de-
cidedly offensive. and a. II is used TO wards
| the person who was secretary OF the navy
! at the time OF the transaction. and In re-