The Washington herald., 1908-05-09
PRESIDENT DEFIES
SENATE In LETTERS
Three MiSSiYeS to Members
Cause Much Worry.
MAY BE READ IN THE SENATE
Refusal to Grant Col. Stewart an
Investigation Expected 80 PreeiPi-
tate ActIOn-Exeeutive said TO Have
Threatened 10 Veto Foraker BIZ
and Ignore It's Passage over Veto.

Three personal or semi-oflcial letters
written by President Roosevelt to three
United States Senators have produced
something Of a sensation in the Senate,
where critical comment is widespread
The letters have to do with the Browns
vile affair and the course Of the admins
tration in exiling Col. william F. Stew
art, the veteran army officer.
In his comment on the Brownsville Incl
dent. the President says he viii veto the
pending Foraker hill to permit the restora-
ton Of the discharged negro soldiers If It
is passed. and viii ignore the dictum of
Congress II the measure is re-enacted
over his veto
The three letters were written to Sena-
tors William Alden Smith. Of Michigan:
John W Stewart. of Vermont, and Isidor
Rayner. Of Maryland. The original threat
OF veto was made in the communication
10 Mr. Smith, and It is understood that
it has been repeated IN the letter to Mr.
Stewart
Col. Stewart Criticised.
TIE letter to Mr. Rayner deals with
the case Of Col. Stewart, and is said to
be full Of unstinted condemnation Of that
officer and justification Of the Presidents s
action in ordering him TO an ungarrisoned
post in the Arizona desert. and subse-
quently, after Col. Stewart had been
transferred 10 more desirable station in
Florida. ordering him back to Arizona.
According 10 gossip at the Capitol, one
or all Of these letters may be read in
the Senate next week. Doubtless if this
is done, some Senator'S viii endeayor to
secure action by the Senate condemnlng
the Presidents expressions.
It is realized that the adoption of a
resolution eondemning the Presidents at
titude might produce serious party dis
turbance. and with the certainty Of a
hard campaign the leaders will go far
to prevent anything that will tend to in
jure party success.
Calls II MsudIin Sentiment.
Many Senators have seen and read all
three letters, while a larger number have
heard from their colleagues what the
communications contain. Il is related that
in one of the letters the President says.
in referring to the effort to restore to
the army the negro soldiers who were sta
toned at Brownsville, that there is al
ways a maudlin sentiment in every com
munity fer murderers. and he points 20
the case of Harry Thaw as an example.
The Presidents letter 10 Senator Stew
art was based on a remark made by that
Senator in debate recently, which was
interpreted as an indication that Senator
Stewart would vote for the Foraker bin
TO restore the discharged negroes. With
that letter Mr.. Roosevelt inclosed comics
Of his letters 10 Senator Smith and Sena-
tor Rayner, and this fact has led to the
conclusion that the President does nor
desire that the letters be considered
secret.
The Presidents comments on the
Brownsville case in the Stewart letter
are said to be very bitter. and to contain
hard slap at those Senators who have
espoused the cause Of the negroes.
Senator Rayner wrote the President this
week. requesting that Col. Stewards de-
mand for a court Of inquiry TO investI-
gate any charges that might be pending
against him be granted. Mr.. Rayner told
/ the President that unless the demand was
granted he would bring the matter TO the
attention of the Senate. In his response.
which was received by Mr. Rayner
1 Thursday night, the President criticisss
Col. Stewart severely, but promises TO
take the application for a court OF In
quiry under consideration.
If Senator Rayner should present a
resolution calling for the papers in the
/ Stewart case or providing for an IN
/ vestigation by the Senate. it is said that
| in addressing the Senate on the resolu-
ton he will read the letter which he re-
ceived from the President It is expected
/ that such action would lead to mention
of the letters TO Senators Smith and
! Stewart, and probably TO their production
in open Senate.