Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-16
ERROR IN JUDGMENT
Iowa Delegation Feels That Presi-
dent Made q Mistake.
WAS in REOpENING SCHLEY CASE
The Feeling Is Said to Be Shared by
All Members of Congress With the
Possible Exception of Those From
State of Indiana.
Washington Bureau of the Courier.

Washington Bureau of the Courier.
Washington, D. c.. Jan. 11.-(Wash-
Z ngton Bureau of the Courier 1.-THE
eeling prevails generally among the
MEMBERS of the Iowa delegation in
congress that the granting of permits
sion to Admiral Schley to submit evil
dence in his own behalf, thus opening
wide the whole matter, was an error
lof judgment on the part of the Presi-
dent. AS matter of fact not only
the Iowa delegation, but all the mem
beers of congress, save perhaps those
from Maryland and some of the south
ern states. are heartily tired of the
matter and look with undisguised dis
favor upon the reopening of the case.
The President had the very best of
reasons for declining to personally
take a hand in the case. A court adj
mittedly impartial had passed upon
the merits of the controversy and rem,
dered a decision, recommending that
no further action be had, and the sec
rotary of the navy had approved the
finding of the court and the incident
was declared closed.
In taking a personal hand in the
matter the President adds to the COM
pllcation and undertakes a task that
cannot fail of materially augmenting
his list of enemies. He has grasped
both horns of a, dilemma when there
seemed no pressing need that he lay
hold of either horn.
AS a prominent. Iowa congressman
remarked, this week: "The President
must decide in one Of three ways; he
must approve the findings of the ma
jority of the court, disapprove the
same or render a compromise opinion
The latter verdict would only add to
the complications; perpetuate the bit
terness and ill-feeling now existing
and is not an act typical of Roosevelt
To disapprove the finding of the court
would be to precipitate row in his
own political household, an act al
most inconceivable in view of the pal
pable fact that the opinion or APPROX
al of the secretary of the navy was not
formally attached to the court findings
until after consultation with the Pres
ident. Such action would be. con-
strued as an instance of the President
reversing himself. The only other al
tentative will be to approve the finding
of the court,and this conclusion would
violently displease the masses of the
people"
Continuing the congressman said:
"The people are with Schley, no mat
ter what may be the verdict of courts,
secretaries or presidents. They be-
lieve he has been court martialed and
all but sentenced. They are in no
mood to regard anything except re-
suits. The Spanish squadron was an
initiated; Schley was personally on
deck; Sampson was not personally
there, during the fight, and that is
enough to know. The incidents occur
ring between the time when Schley as
sumed command of the flying squad
ron and the final destruction of the
Spanish fleet, weigh lightly upon the
public mind; the people see what the
fleet in charge of Schley during the
actual fight accomplished and that is
enough. The fact that Admiral
Schley disregarded explicit orders
from the navy department and left the
harbor of Santiago unguarded; points
upon which there can De no controver.
sy: for thirty-six hours, is given slight
consideration by the people. They say
We'll, when the Spanards did come
out Schley was there and they did not
get away, and what if Schley did dis.
regard orders? However, had the
Spanish feet sneaked out during
those thirty-six hours absence, Schley
wonld not have had friend in the
United States. and the burden of the
plant would have been, If there is
one feature of naval warfare above an
other absolutely essential it is strict
obedience to orders Nothing sue
ceeds like success.
In view of the fact that the Presi
dent will undertake to go into the de