The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-22
THE SCHLEY MATTER.
what Is Being Said i'm Washington
About the Famous Case.

Washington, Feb. 21.-Public inter-
est in the schley-S Sampson controversy
appears to be languishing. President
Roosevelt's attempt to snuff it out"
has not been a bowling success. Prior
to his determination to consider the
appeal of Rear Admiral Sehley, it was
believed in this vicinity that the
Schley matter was dead issue. The
President it appears, has revived the
Improbable discussion of the subject
without changing the opinion of a
single person.
Some of the Presidents political
friends think he made a mistake in
going into a full explanation Of his
view of the case, and they contend that
it would have been better for him to
have denied Admiral Schley's appeal
and simply marked approved" across
the findings of the court of inquiry.
However, being a strenuous man, and
ever ready to express an opinion when
one is demanded of him, the President
has devoted considerable time and
space to the subject, without adding
anything material to the controversy.
AS evidence of a lack of sincere in
terest in the subject, anecdotes are
already being circulated to show that
the sympathy lllG HGIO VI
is not as deep and as lasting as was
generally supposed. | met a we'll
known Marylander a few days ago,
and naturally he opened up a discus
sion of the Schley case. He went on
to say that nothing could be said by
President Roosevelt, or anybody else,
which would induce the great mass
of the American people to believe that
Schley did not DO his full duty at the
battle of Santiago, and should be Civ
en- due credit for his notable victory,
twithstanding the finding of the
court of inquiry. We had no contro-
versy on that point, but the Mary
lander went on to say that a great
many people who profess to be ready
to make almost any kind of personal
sacrifice to show their faith in Schley,
do not come to the scratch when they
are brought face to face with test
of their devotion to Schley.
In this connection 1t is said that a
gentleman, who is friendly to Schley
went over to Baltimore not long ago,
and got into a regular hot bed" of
Schley sympathizers. There was con
siderable extraYagant talk and buster
in favor of Sohley, and the visitor,
who is something of a wag, but firm
believer in Schleys courage, ability
and honor, proceeded to put the Balti-
more Schley contingent to practical
test. In the most exciting stage Of
the conversation, the wag drew from
his pocket little book, and innocently
remarked that he was interested in
getting up a slight token of esteem
and confidence TO be presented to Rear
Admiral Schley, and contributions of
ten cents each, would be very encour
aging and help along the cause. In
stantly there was a cooling down of the
hot air" Schley talk, and the wag
failed to get a single subscription to
the supposed Schley fund, although
the price of each mans loyalty to
Schley was only rated at ten cents.
The real friends of Admiral Schley
regret that he permitted himself to be
forced into the position he now oceu-
pies. for he is no longer a factor in the
navy, having been placed on the retired
list. and as his case has been passed
upon by all of the reviewing authori-
ties. except the people, II Is doubtful
whether further agitation of the sub
ject before the latter tribunal will inn
prove his standing in the estimation
OF his countrymen.