The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-05-13
PRESIDENT TO SEN. STEWART
Roosevelt Writes to Vermont Senator
Justifying His Views.

Washington. May S.-Three mem
bers of the United States Senate have
received letters from President Roose-
welt within the last few days declar-
ing his supremacy, as communicating
chief in all matters 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 precipitate confer
ence OF republican members. The let.
tiers In every case are In defense OF
his course In discharging without hon
or the negro soldiers he believed to be
guilty OF shooting up" the town OF
Brownsville, Texas, and his action In
banishing Col. VIM. f. Stewart to an
abandoned military post In desert
section Of Arizona.
The third letter came today to Sen
ator Stewart Of Vermont. A few days
ago during the debate on the Browns
vile case Senator Stewart asked a
question indicating that he had doubt
as to the wisdom of extending to the
president the power OF passing on the
innocense or guilt Of ex-soldiers APP
plying for reinstatement in view Of
the fact that 1t appeared the presi-
dent still believes all OF the negroes TO
have been guilty OF completely In the
ARRAY. The senator was surprised to
receive from the president today a
letter bearing on both the Col. Stewart
and the Brownsville cases. Attached
to the communication were letters to
Senators Rayner and William Alden
Smith, the one TO Mr. Rayner assert
ing chiefly the presidents right TO
deal with an officer In such manner as
he pleased. as commander-in-chief,
while the one to Mr. Smith was con-
fined to the Brownsville affair and re-
iterated the presidents belief that he
had dealt with the case as condition
demanded.
The president went farther still in
his letter to Senator Stewart in addi-
ton to repeating much that he said
to the other senators. He declared
that Senator Stewart, from the ques-
ton he asked In the debate, appeared
to be proceeding under misappre.
hension OF the duties Of the president
OF the United States in connection
with the army and the navy. He
quoted the law as he understood II
and denied that he was under any OBJ
legation TO give to the discharged ne
gro soldiers or to Colonel Stewart any
court OF inquiry. Several paragraphs
we're devoted to discussion of Col
Stewards case and the faults of his
which have put him In disrepute in
army circles. After his discussion the
president wrote that In every com.
munity there Is found maudlin sym.
patty with murderers, and the Thaw
case In New York is cited by him as
an example.
None Of the senators who have re.
ceived letters from the White House
have decided whether they will make
them public. All have been asked to
do so. Senator Smith of Michigan de
clined on the ground that It would be
improper and Senator Rayner Is pre-
pairing to use the letter to him In a
speech which he will make to the Sen
ate denouncing the action of the pres
ident in banishing Colonel Stewart to
Fort Grant, Arizona. Senator Stew
art showed to several of his colleag
ues the letter he received but thus
far has made no disposition Of It. Sew
eral senators said today that the let
tiers would have the effect of compli.
eating the situation in regard to leg.
slation In the interest OF the innoc,
ent members Of the battalion Of ne
groes discharged on account of the
Brownsville ARRAY. There are two
bills before the senate looking to that
end. II is generally believed that the
Republican senator's will hold eau
Gus for the discussion OF the entire
question, including the presidents let
ters, early next week.