Arizona republican., 1905-02-01
MAeNANImoUs mR. WILLIAMS.
This is no Time to Get Even ysith Gen
 erai Miles.

eral Miles.
 Washington. Jan. 31.-The treatment by General Nelson 4. Miles of Jelfer- son Davis president of the coufederacy, Gurug the time he was prisoner at Fortress Monroe, Va, was recalled in the house today when MT. Williams of Mississippi. the minority leader, tried to secure the adoption of the senate amendment to the house provision re- garding retired officers serving with the state militia. Iessrs. Hull of Iowa and Hay of Virginia, both members of the military affairs committee, endors- ed the house provision making it re- troactive. The latter dclared it was democratic doctrine to save money and for that reason called upon the demo- crats to stand by the committee.
 It was at this junoture that MT. Williams arose and spoke of the ac- tion of General Miles in placing shackIes on the ankles of Jefferson Davis. He shared. he said. the opiu- ion of southern men as to that, but he did not think ii was the time or the place to get even. MT. Williams mo liOu to agree to the senate motion which does not make the law concern ing retired officers retroactive was lost. 79 to III. The bill then was sent to conference.
 The rostoffica appropriation bill was debated Cor an hour, but its cOusidera- ton had not been concluded when the house adjourned.
 The house adopted a resolution of fe-ed by Mir. Fitzgerald of New York, calling on the secretary Of the navy for information regarding inequality oI the amount of alnor placed for the battIeaHiTs Louisiaua and Connecticut.
 4 Pr0tractcd debate arose over the motion incroduced by Mr. Williams. the minority leader, to accept with slight modification the senate substitute for the house amendment relating to re- tired officers serving with militia regi- ments. MT. Williams reiterated his be- lief that the original house amend ueDt vas directed aL Lieutenant Cen raI Miles. inspector general of Massa- chusetts Messrs. Full and Hay, oo- fs,sseti- tI4e-seHa5e- amendment, the for mer disclaiming that it had special ra- foreuces tO GenraI Miles. He said that if General Miles had died six months ago the amendment would have been offered just the same, but he re- garded it as unfortunate that a man of such distinguished career can al- ways manage to get himself in the forefront of public opinion, so that no matter what congress may propose to do you are always hitting General Miles"
 Nr. Williams replying to both Messrs Hay and Hull said he was not afraid Of a covert attack on his democracy. 'I am uot," he said, afraid of my loyalty or feaIty as a southerner. dislike so much to stay under cover that we might as well come out. l share the feeling that southern men generally entertain regarding General Miles conduct when he put shackies on the ankles of Jefferson Davis and I do not believe it will sound in history to his credit or that it will sound in his tory to the discredit of MT. Davis that he was compelled to submit to it, old and hapless and sick as he was at the time.
 If this legislation had been pointed at anybody else than General Miles. would have taken the same course that l have taken. except that l would have taken it much more 1nXiously and much more warmly. I stand in re- lationship to Jefferson Davis that some of my critics do not. First he was a Nissiszippian, and l am one. My grandfather was a senior captain of his regiment in the Mexican war and his favOrite captain and ii the third place. he was my friend. as far as an old man can be a friend of a child or a boy. If you want to punish General Miles or anybody else for what was done in those. days, if history is to hold out it's condemnation. all right, but this is not the time nor the place nor the way to get even. The people of the south don't punish in little ways like that"
 Nr Williams amendment. and mo- ton were lost by 70 to III. The oth- CT amendments were then non-con- cured in and the bill was sent to the conference.
 After adopting the conference report on the Philippines government bill the house resumed consideration of the post office appropriation bill.