Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-05-09
Writes Letters to Senators
Which Makes Their
Collars wilt
As Commander the
President Says He Gan
DO as He PledSeS

members OF the VnlIeu states SEN
ate have received a letter from
President Roosevelt within the past
few days declaring his supremacy,
as commander-in-chief in all mat
ters referring to the control of the
army and navy. The letters have
created intense feeling in the senate
and 1t is not unlikely that they will
be referred to the conference of the
Republican members. The letters,
in every case, are in defense of his
course in discharging without honor
the negro soldiers he believed guilty
of shooting up the town of Browns
vile and his action in banishing
Col. Stewart to an abandoned MILF
tary post in Arizona.
A third letter came today to Sem
ator Stewart Of Vermont. A few
days ago, during the debate of the
BrOwnville affair, Senator Stewart
asked a question indicating that he
had doubts as to the wisdom of ex-
tending to the president the power
Of passing on the innocense or guilt
Of exsoldiers applying for reinstate-
ment, in fact that the president
still believes that the negroes have
been guilty of complication in the
ARRAY. The senator was surprised
to receive from the president let
ter today bearing on both the Stew
art and the Brownsville cases. At
tached to the communication were
letters to Senators Ryder, Williams
and Alden Smith, the one to Mr..
Ryder asserting the presidents right,
as commander-in-chie to deal with
an officer in such manner as he
pleased, while the one to Mr.. Smith
was confined to the Brownsville af-
fair, and reiterated the presidents
belief that he had dealt with the
case as conditions demanded.
The president went further still
in his letter to Senator Stewart. In
addition to repeating much that he
clared that Senator Stewart, from
a question asked in the debate, ap-
peared to be proceeding under a
misapprehension of the duties of the
president, He quoted the law as he
understood 1t and denied that he was
under obligation to discharge the
negro soldiers or to subject Co.
Stewart to a court of inquiry.
Several paragraphs were devoted
to Col. Stewards case and the faults
Of his whic hhave put him in dis
repute In arm circles. After this
discussion the president wrote that
In every community there is found
maudlin sympathy with murderers,
and the Thaw case in New York is
cited by him as an example.
None Of the senators who have
received letters from the White
House have decided whether they
will make them public. All have
been asked to do so, but Senator
Smith of Michigan, declined on the
ground that it would be improper,
and Senator Raynor is preparing to
use the letter to him in speech
which he will make to the senate
denouncing the action of the presi-
dent in banishing Col. Stewart OF
Arizona.
Senator Stewart showed to several
of his colleagues the letter he had
received but thus far has made NO
disposition Of it. Several senators
said today that the letters would
have the effect of complicating the
situation in regard to legislation In
the interest of the innocent members
Of the battalion Of negroes discharg-
ed on account of the Brownsville af-
fair. There are two bills before the
senate looking to that end. 1t is
generally believed that the Republic
can senators will hold caucus for
the discussion Of the entire question,
including the presidents letters
next week.