The Washington times., 1903-10-12
PRESIDENT To IGNORE
LONGS CRITICISMS
Attack Believed to BE a
MiSstatement of Fact.
ANIMUS BEHIND STATEMENT
Observations Of Ex-SecretaTy of Navy
OF Former SuboIdinate's Course
IN Office.

President Roosevelt. OF course, viii
not make any reply to the article just
published I'm the "Outook." In which ex-
Secretary OF the Navy John d. Ions
makes some interesting observations on
Mr.. Roosevelts conduct Of the Office of
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy.
II Is asserted. however. by those
closest to the President. that the charge
Or Long makes that mr.. Roosevelt de-
sired before the outbreak Of the war 10
send squadron TO Spain % sink the
Spanish feet. IS not true.
Moody Sees President.
Secretary OF the Navy Moody was in
conference with tho President for a half
hour or more this morning. It is sup
posed the Long incident was taken Gp-
Mr.. Moody rs he left the White House,
said ne could not discuss it.
There are those who think that the
President should. if the charge is UNI
true. deny 1t in es public a manner as
that in which it was made The Presi-
dents friends believe that Air. Long s
wcll-known personal feeling against Mr..
Roosevelt has led him, perhaps uncon-
sciously. into an erroneous statement
Statement Not Credited.
There is no doubt that Dir. Roosevelt
favored the sending Of an American
squadron TO a point where it would be
within striking distance of the Spanish
feet whenever war should be declared
but those who are familiar with his
work as Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy discount the idea that he was
anxious for the United States to commit
an overt act of war, such as Mr.. Long
alleges.
The article in question is distinguished
by the unreserve Of it's comment on Mr.
Roosevelt as Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy. II has excited the keencst at
tention because it is well known the
relations between Secretary Long and
the Assistant Secretary were sometimes
strained The particular charge that
Mr. Roosevelt and some Of the naval Of
ficers were anxious TO send a squadron
across the ocean before the outbreak OF
war to sink the Spanish ships has been
discussed especially.
Mr.. Longs Comment.
In HIS article in the Outlook" M.
Long. among other things, says OF ar.
Roosevelt
Mr. Roosevelt was an interesting per
sonality as Assistant Secretary OF the
Navy. as. indeed. he is in any capacity.
There We're several candidates for the
place. which President Mckinley allow
ed me TO I'LL In May. 1897. on the retire
aent OF Mr.. McAdoo, an excellent Off
cial under the previous Administration
who had consented 70 hold over ill
that time, I selected Mr.. Roosevelt. who
had had. and indeed. has had to this
day, hearty interest in The navy.
His activity was characteristic. He
was Jealous in the work OF putting tn,
navy in condition Tor the apprehendec
struggle.
His ardor sometimes went faster thar
the President or the department appre-
ciated. just before the war he. as wei
as some naval officers. WITS anxious e
send a squddr0n across the ocean 10 sinh
the ships and torpedo beat dcstrOyers OF
the Spanish feet while We were yet ~
peace with Spain.
He worked indcfatgably. frequently
incorporating his views IN memora nda
which he would place every morning
ca my desk. Most OF his sugge stion.
had, however. so Tar as applicable, al
ready been adopted by the various
bureaus. the chi-fs Of which v,er.
straining every nerve and leaving moth
ing undOne When ] suggested 10 hin
that some future historian reading hi
memoranda, IL they were put on record
would get the impression that tn.
bureaus were inefficient, be accepte,
the suggestion with she generous goo,
nature which j. so marked in him.
Indeed, nothing could be pleasaute
than our relations. lie was heart an,
soul IN his work. dis tyDewriters ia,
no rest he too. lacks the rare knacl
Of bTevity. lie was especially stinaulsf
ING q tae younger officers. vino gather
20 about him and made his once az
busy as = hive.