The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-07
ECHOES OF HOWE CASE.

Washington, June 6.-The echoes OF the
Howe case are likely to reveroerate
good while longer in the atmosphere Oh
The military establishment. Some con-
fusion seems to have arisen at the Tune
the secretary Of war rendered his de-
cision. as to just what sort of tribunal
no ordered convened. HowZe's desire
was for a court of inquiry, or, if he could
not have that. board of officers to re
view the whole case and see whether it
had been fairly handled. The secretary's
decision gave him, not the court, as was
at first understood, but the board.
Inquiry at headquarters shows that'
although there is a technical distinction
between the two--a court having to De
appointed by the president. but board
being within the jurisdiction of the sec
retarv-for most practical purposes they
amount to the same thing. The board
is less powerful than the court only in
the matter of compelling the attendance
of reluctant witnesses. 1t can admins
ter oaIns, examine and cross-eXamlne,
and perforr~ all the ordinary functions or
a court, and that is what the secretary
of war expects of the present board.
There is not likely to be any reluctance
on the part of witnesses on either side
The natives who are demanding the pun
isbment Of Howe are obviously enlisted
for the war: the whites who are putting
Hunter on the defensive are equally de-
termined.
From the turn things have taken, the
case is likely TO acquire a new title and
figure in military history as the Howe
nc
a possible sequel. The lifelong feud be-
tween Gems. Hazen and Stanley has been
recalled by nearly every army officer
who has had any comment to make on
the pending one. The Miles-Corbin cpl
sode, disagreeabe as that was, was not
in the same class with it. common
saving among army men here is: Keep
out of a West Point fight as you would
keep out of purgatory." Possibly be-
cause their status is so clearly defined
and their chances so easy TO forecast at
the outset Of their careers, the West
Pointers seem TO carry more personal
bitterness into their pursuit of each other
Secretary Root had one Of this class OF
/ cases before him about two years ago.
and when he tried to restore peace in
order TO preserve the good repute of the
( service and check the threatened spread
I Of denorlization one of his advisers re-
: marked to him: Mr.. Secretary. it won
do any good for you to intervene. They
( have got going. and they can't stop Mr..
/ Reot brought his fist down upon the table
/ with the exclamation: They must stop"
lie has made no statement concerning
/ his present purpose, but the signs indi-
= asr-1rr Z
policy into the case before him. some
f one raised the point, on hearing that he
was contemplating an eNonerstion OF
howe on the face OF the returns. that
/ such 4 decision would be interpreted By
/ the friends Of Gen. Miles as a rebuff 70
/ that officer. as il was ne who had or
dered the investigation made by Major
Hunter But Mir. Root. il is said. saw
/ nothing in that plea. He took the ground
/ that Gen Miles did not figure in the case
/ at the point where he was going 20 take
il up. Gen Niles had ordered an import
ant investigation; the question now was
whether Hunter had made one Of that
I kind.
II this meant anything. taken in Con
nection with what had gone before. it
meant that he had tried HOWE and now
. he was going TO try Hunter. Should
/ Hunter. therefore. not come out OF the
{ approeching investigation with flying
! colors. he stands a good chance Of being
{ summoned himself before a court; and
thus the game Of give aud-take may -
! on as long as both the emoroiled officers
continue in the service OF the United
States.
An Oklahoma man who was shot by the
. Indians N lS-7 has just sued the United
states government Tor 90 damages