The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-09
ROOSEVELT
 sIS CAUSTIC Wssss Letters to Prorni- ,-1gnt Senators. DECLARES HIS SUPREMACY Defends His Course as Commander
 of the Army. The Letters Have Created Intense Feel ins in the Senate spd Repubn- oaa Member. May caii
 Conference.
 

Washington, May s.-Three members of the United States Senate have re- ceived letters from President Roose. velt within the last few days declaring his supremacy, as commander-i -chief tn all matters referring to the control of the army and navy.
 The letters have created intense feeling in the Senate. and it Is not un- likely that they will precipitate con Terence of Republican members. The letters 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, Tex. and his action in banishtng Colonel William F. Stewart to an abandoned military post in des- ert section of Arizona. The third let ter came today to Senator Stewart of Vermont. .ssf t,.t
 A few days ago. during the debate on the Brownsville case. Senator Stew art asked a. question indicating that he had doubt as to the wisdom of extend Ing to the President the power of passing on the innocence or guilt of ex-soldiers applying for reinstatement In view of the fact that. it appeared the President still believes all of the ne- groos to have been guilty of compile ity In the affray. The Senator re- ceived from the President today a let ter bearing on both the. Colonel Stew art and the Brownsville cases. At tached to the connunicatfon were let ters to Senator Rayner anc William Alden smith. the one to Mir. Rayner as- sorting chiefly the Presidents right as commander-in-chIef to deal with an ofncer In such manner as he pleased, while the one to Mfr. smith was con fined to the Brownsville affair and re- iterated the President's belief that he had dealt with the case as conditions demanded.
 Sandlin syznpafhy.
 The President went farther stfll in his letter to Senator stewart. He de- clared that Senator Stawart from the question he asked. in the debate, Ap- peared to be proceeding under a gis- apprehension of the dptiaa of the Free ident Of the United states In connec- ten with the army and navy. He quoted the law as he cunderstood it. and denied that he was under any obligation. to give to the discharged negro soldiers or to Colonel Stewart any court. of inquiry. Several para graphs were devoted to disctission of the Colonel Stewart case and the faults which have put him in disrepute in army circles. After this discussion, the President. wrote that in every com munity there is found maudlin sympa- tuy Wltn .IHuEoGfb anu the TnAW case 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 maIx e them public. All have been asked to do so. Senator Smith, of Michigan, de- clined on the ground that 1t would be improper and Senator Rayner is preparing to use the letter in a speech which he will make to the Senate de- nouncing the action of the President in banishing Colonel Stewart to Fort Grant. Arizona.
 Senator Stewart showed to several of his colleagues the letter he re- ceived, but thus far has made no dis position of it. Several Senators said today that the letters would have the effect of complicating the situation in regard to legislation in interest of the innocent members of the battalion of negroes discharged on account of the Brownsville affray. There are two bills before the Senate looking to that end. It is generally believed that the Republican Senators will hold a caucus for the discussion of the entire ques- tion including the Presidents letters. early next week.