The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1908-05-15
THE CASE OF STEWART.
ARMY OFFICER EXILED TO ABANDONED POST BY
ORDER Of ROOSEVELT

There is streak of petty cussedness in the make up
of Theodore Roosevelt that intensely human but VIII ch
the American people wish there His treatment
of Colonel VIM. F. Stewart a in point Alleging that
Colonel Stewart temperamenay disqualified from being
good army officer account of quarresome disposition
the president undertook to force Colonel Stewart resign
but being unable to do and having no charges upon
which him he has ordered the colonel to an
abandoned army post in Arizona to remain until he reaches
the age of retirement in 1911 Senator Rayner has taken
up the defense of Colonel Stewart and has introduced
resolution demanding of inquiry which President
Roosevelt says outside of the province of congress- Sen
ator Rayner makes strong point saying that Stewart
being punished for quarelng and Rooseve were pun
shed every time he quarreled be would be in constant
trouble The facts in the Stewart are given in recent
correspondence from Washington the Brooklyn Eagle and
follows:
The curious and somewhat mysterious of Colonel
William Stewart of the Artillery Corps may become the
subject of congressional investigation, if a of
inquiry Members of the Senate both Democratic and
Republican have become interested in his and have
taken steps to determine whether alleged he is the sub
ject of persecution and figuring American Dreyus
some of his friends contend
Just Colonel Stewart is his way from Fort
Francis Barracks, Florida to abandoned army post m
arizona surrounded by cactus plants where he will have
command consisting of soldier dying of consumption.
The officer has been assigned to this isolated point because
he refuses to apply for retirement as instructed to do b
War Department officials Senator Rayner of Maryland
has written letter to the President protesting against the
departments harsh treatment of Colonel Stewart and urg
ing that the atters request for of inquiry be granted
An air of mystery surrounds this unusual Seekers
information the exact for the War Depart
menus desiring to force Stewart the list obtain
unsatisfactory replies their requests at the department.
The officials there do not to discuss the matter giving
their the fact that is under consideration by the
President No attempt is made hide the fact that the
department has officially sought to force Stewart to retire
and that his assignment command not suitable for
second lieutenant the result of his determination to remain
the active list until forced off by operation of law
From hints and unofficial admissions by administration
officials it appears that the War Department regards Col
one Stewart as temperamental1y impossible 1t is said
that officers and enlisted find it next to impossible to
get along with him. that he cantankerous one Repub
tha
alleged that he has violated the regulations IN any respect
that he guilty of oense which would warrant pun
ishent Apparently the department has esoted to the
exile policy of getting rid of an officer deemed
to be undesirable
The first attempt to force Colonel Stewart off the active
list made time ago Republican Senators assert
that they have seen letter the War Department to
Colonel Stewart asking apply for retirement 1t IS asSe
ted by the Senators that Stewart reply that he
would be willing retire promoted to be Brgad1er-
General 1t is the of the department IN arranging
matters of this retire officer at the rank higher
than the grade occupied at the time OF applying Tor retire
men In this case, however, It was proposed TO torce
Stewart to retire as Colonel The latter refused to cut OFT
his pay and allowances Is per cent merely to please the
department officials and said he would serve until reaching
the legal retirement age of 81 in 1911.
Republican Senators declare further that letter from
the Department exists warning Stewart that he did not
retire he would be abandoned Army post IN the
deserts of Arizona This threat carried out and Tor an
extended period Stewart duty at Fort Grant Arizona
with command said of one soldier afflicted with tuer
culosis lew weeks ago he ordered to co1ortaDle
post ST. Augustine Florida The Florida congressman
had other plans for filling this assignment and at their re-
quest the War Department the other day ordered 0oel
Stewart to the cactus plants OF Arizona TO Whch
point he is now proceeding
Colonel Stewart has influential friends Congress and
they have instituted inquiry into his treatment Mrs
Stewart related the late Senator Pnney Whyte OF
MARYLAND and Senator Rayner of that state chapon
the officers cause Senator Rayner drafted resolution
the other day providing for the appointment OF committee
investigate the affair The President is said heard OF
this and invited Senator Rayner to the White House
and talk the matter with him As result OF this con-