Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-27
SOME OBSERVATIONS
How Washington Feels About the
Schley Verdict.
WHERE THE LAWMAKERS STAND

vlded in the Ratio of TWo-fifths
Against Three-fifths for the Presi.
dents View of the Matter.
Washington, D. c., Feb. "a.
Since the full text of the Presidents
conclusions in the appeal of Admiral
Schley became public, the decision
has monopolized the attention of pub
lie men and citizens to a considerable
extent. Now, that time has elapsed
sufficient to enable public and con-
Igressional sentiment to crystalline,
some observations may be worth
while.
Expected Has Happened.
That there should be wide diver
gence of opinion touching the Presi-
dents verdict is obvious. 1t was to
be expected that the extreme partisans
of Admiral Schley would be able to
discern nothing but flaws mountain
GUS and hideous, in the report, and
equally to be expected that the friends
of Admiral Sampson should hail the
finding as an admirable document in
every detail. The expected has hap
pened; these are the precise views
taken by the already prejudiced op-
ponents in the controversy. Howev-
er, there is a very large class of people
in the United States who while very
weary and sick of the controversy, de-
sire to know the actual facts, without
establishment, and also to.A.now
what, after a full investigation, the
President thinks about the matter.
Approve Presidents Finding.
Concerning this latter class it may
be said that the sentiment appears to
drift toward approval Of the Presi-
dents finding. The decision has prob
ably had the effect of causing many
who were in doubt to take the view
held by the President The report
brought out facts unfamiliar to the
public at large and presented them in
a clear, concise and easily understood
manner.
Senators With Roosevelt
The republican members of the sen.
ate are divided into about the ratio
it is understood, Of two-fifths against,
to three.fifths for the Presidents posi-.
tion-perhaps three-quarters would be
nearer than three-fifths. 1t may be
said that the Iowa senators approve
the views and opinions of the Presi.
dent, in the main, although it is not
unlikely that they would not have per
mitted certain intimations to have
gone into the report, though there
might be ample grounds therefor.
Iowa congressman Not Unit.
In the house the ration for and
against the Presidents views woult
appear to be about the same as in the
senate. The Iowa congressman are
not disposed to discuss the verdict fol
publication, although freely giving
| their views for private consumption
1t may be said. however, that the dele
cation supports the President in the
main points involved, although this
feeling is not unanimous. One Iowa
| congressman, who perhaps voiced the
majority sentiment, spoke substantial
ly as follows:
The report was prepared with
great skill and presents the case in
such manner that the only way it
will be attacked is to go after Presi.
| dent Mckinley and the captains Of the
ships engaged at Santiago 1t is clea,
that from the moment the lookout on
the Iowa saw the nose of the first
Spanish ship, and the warning was Civ.
en-, that each captain sailed in on his
own account. 1t was captains fight
The only blunder made during the
| fight was by the Brooklyn, with AID
miral Schley on board. The loop is
indefensible; Admiral Dewey admits
this and upon that point the court OF
inquiry was unit Of course, had the
Brooklyn not negotiated the loop it
would have been in much closer prox.
unity to the three Spanish ships, but
IF the Spaniards could have dealt hard
er blows, it is reasonable to suppose
the Brooklyn would have taken a sim.
liar advantage.
The details showing effects of shots
is interesting and especially so in view
of the deductions made, showing the
battleship Iowa to have been a very
important factor in the fight, doing
greater execution, in fact, than any OF
her sister ships. Heretofore there has
seemed to be a disposition to mini
mize the Importance of the Iowa in the
battle.
The Presidents method Of obtain
ing information, first-handed relative
to the question of command was
unique. From time to time the var
ious captains commanding ships in the
fight We're invited to dine with the
President, and at this time the infor
nation sought was obtained after
4 close cross-examination. Upon this
testimony, largely, the President
bases his deduction that Admiral
Sampson was in command of the fleet
and as such was entitled to the homo
of the victory SO far as the command
ing officer would naturally be entitled
to that honor
THE supplemental report of Admira
Dewey was in poor taste. During the
court of inquiry trial the question Of
command was not considered at all
Admiral Dewey distinctly stated thai
the court cared nothing as to that
that that point was not involved in the
allegations against Admiral Schley
When an effort was made to open w
that phase of the case, Admiral Dewey
shut it out and when Admiral Samp
sons attorneys asked to be permitted
tos introduce testimony on that line
| theny waro doniod a haoripcy v,+ A 4