New-York tribune., 1905-02-01
WILLIAMS HARD HIT.
LEADERS, PLEA IGNORED
MAJ Presage His O0erthror-
NiIes's Pay in Dispute.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BuREAu.l

washington Jan. 1.-Representative Will
.sr,ss leadership was again dehed by the minor
az to-day while the Hull amendment TO the
Arrnv Appropriation bin. which the Democratic
reader declared was directed against Lieutenant
General Nelson A Miles. retired. now serving as
,-snector general OF Massachusetts was under
dfscusson. The trouble arose when the report
- the conference submitted and Mr.. Will
,an1s. supporting the Senate amendment, in
sisted that if the House die not recede an act
- grave injustice would be perpetrated
f, representative Hay, of Virginia. the chairman
: ~ the Democratic caucus. openly repudiated the
leadership of Mr- Williams declaring that the
r7uu amendment was good Democratic doctrine
and in his revolt he had large minority fol-
having This is the second time that the Demo-
cratic leader has locked horns with his minority
colleagues on the same proposition, and on both
occasions he has been worsted. The vote to-
6av Of IL 10 Il indicated an overwhelming
defeat for Nj. Williams, and il was freely pre-
.si-rea I'm the Democratic camp that II presaged
The overthrow Of his leadership For some time
a.. has not been serene in the minority house
hold and the friction has now reached a point
--rare open rebellion is threatened
T., a speech OF great force. in which he scath-
fngly denounced the attack made upon his
Democracy by Representative Hay. Mr. WILL
tarrs explained his attitude and attempted to
stem the tide which seemed so resistlessly run
ming against him. but it was all 10 no purpose
and he was slaughtered by his party associates
when the final test came. Referring to the ac-
ton OF General Miles in shackrng Jefferson
Davis. when the President of the Confederacy
was a prisoner in Niles's charge after the Civil
War, Nj Williams said:
share the feeling which Southern men gen.
erauy entertain regarding General Miles's con-
duct when he put shackles upon the ankles of
Jefferson Davis. I do not believe that il will
sound TO his credit in history or that il will
sound 10 the discredit Of Jefferson Davis that
he was forced 70 submit TO it-being sick and
helpless and crippled as he at the time
stand IL e relation 10 Jefferson Davis that
perhaps some Of my critics do not Ny grand
father was senior captain in Jefferson Davis's
regiment in the Mexican War-his favorite cap
tain. might say-and. secondly, Jefferson Davis
was my personal friend much my friend as
an old man can be the friend Of a boy or child
This is not the time or the place the way in
eral Niles this not the way TO do it. This is
not Southern magnanimitv. Southerners do not
punish IN little ways like that
The Senate amendment to the Army Appro-
pnstion bin that was under discussion pro-
vides that the House requirement that only re-
tired officers up 10 and including the rank of
major shall draw full pay when detailed to duty
with the militia shall not be retroactive It
has been charged that the House provision was
aimed at General Niles who now draws his full
pay Of S11 900 Z year and allowances. If Mr.
WilIams's plea had prevailed all officers at
present assigned to duty with State troops would
continue 10 draw full pay, the new law affecting
only those hereafter detailed. Mr.. Williams lost
were non-concurred in by the House and the
bill sent conference