Middletown transcript., 1901-07-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.

~ of the absurd story that he saw and
approved the proofs of that portion of
the third volume of Maclay's History of
the Navy, which refers to Rear Admiral
Schley as coward, by ordering Com
mander Wainwright, Superintendent Of
the Naval Academy, to strike the volume
from the list of text books used. In
addition, the Secretary made public q
statement in which he said: 81 know
nothing OF Macfay's incorporate abuse
of Admiral Schley, and it is absurd to
say that 1 would endorse his language
when he calls Admiral Schley coward.
Admiral Schley is no coward. No one in
the service who knows him has ever for
a moment doubted his bravery or his
gallantry in action.s Of the publication
alleging the Navy Department to be
opposed to Congressional investigation
of Admiral Schley's conduct in the West
Indian campaign, Secretary Long said:
'It is unjust to the Department to say
that it will oppose any investigation of
Schley's conduct in the West
Indian campaign. As matter of fact, 1
wrote letter to Senator Hale, Chairman
of the Naval Affairs Committee of the
Senate, during the last session of Con-
gress, in which I asked him to have an
investigation of this entire Sampson
Schley matter by Committee of Senators
Or joint Committee of both Houses
~
Governor Allen, of Porto Rico, passed
through Washington, en- route to Canton,
to confer with President Mckinley con-
,erning the proclamation declaring free
.rade between the United States and
Porto Rico. Governor Allen was ready
enough to talk about Porto Rico and its
steady increase in prosperity and bright
uture, but he smiled and changed the
subject when he was asked if the report
hat he would resign the governship and
lot return to Porto Rico, was true.
~
Mr.. William Vaughn, Chairman of the
Alabama Republican State Committee,
Who is in Washington on business said:
1T looks as though the Republicans in
he Constitutional Convention of Alabama
night have deciding vote, although
hey are only 10 or 20 out of $50 dele
ates. 1t is already evident that the
Democrats are badly divided among
themselves. On the suffrage plan they
ave presented two different reports, and
he best Democrats in the convention and
the State are against the grandfather
lause. Senator Pettus has declared that
S adoption would be unwise, and Senator
lorgan has said quite as much. Then
lere is perplexity absut the payment of
ne poll tax as prerequisite for voting.
ne of the Democratic members of Con-
ress has Investigated and found that the
egroes in the black belt pay Il, 900 poll
lxes, where the whites only pay 5000.
be sure, the negroes are largely in the
lajority there, but the Democrats are
ot certain that the poll tax provision
i'll give them any great aid in suppress
g the negro vote. The Convention will
'obably be in session until Christmas
'fore it straightens out all the tangles.
***
If Mr.. James L. Norris, the District of
olumbia member of the Democratic
ational Committee knows what he is
liking about, Mr.. Bryan has lost his
I'D upon that Committee, although he
Id been generally supposed to thor
ghly dominate majority of its men,
RS, as well as upon the Ohio Democracy.
r. Norris declares very positively that
has received letters from majority of
e members of the Democratic National
endorsing the action of the
no Convention in throwing Organism
erboard. That declaration ought to
rnish Mr.. Bryan with material for a
tie serious reflection, because, if it be
lie, it means that he has been deposed
the Democratic leader.
~
secretary Long has approved the report
the Naval Examining Board-the first
Its kind for many years-that Lieuten-
Arman Hartrath is morally disqual-
ID for promotion from the Engineer
rps to the line, and recommended to
President that Hartrath be dropped
m the Naval list with years pay, as
'ylded by law. Hartrath was appoint
to the Naval Academy from Michigan
1884, and since April, 1901, has been
ached to the receiving ship Independ-
'e, stationed at Mare Island Navy
rd.
~
jolonel Dick Plunkett, who lives in
lahoma, said just before leaving Wash
ton, In order to be present at the dis
'utlon of the lands in that territory,
be opened to settlement August 9th:
am glad to see that Ex-Governor
hards, of Wyoming, Assistant Com
sloner of the General Land Office, is
be IN charge of the drawing of lots.
s lottery business is new proposition
If it should not prove successful,
re would be food of complaints.
Governor Richards is Western man
the settlers know this and feel that
will lookout for their interests and
equal justice to ALL He has familiar
himself with the location of the tract
e opened up, and l feel that Secretary
'hcock could have made no wiser
ction."
***
fffd4 assistant Postmaster General
den followed up Postmaster-Ge General
this orders for such execution of the
as will shut out all publications not
'ly entitled to the privilege of second
mail, with letter to postmasters,
ming them that their bondsmen are
to be held for any losses incurred
ne government through their failure