Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-01-17
x cUTIv
Roosevelt Brownson Controversy.

nooSSVSiI.D TOWnSCV NouSVoVeCtys
The action of Rear Admiral Brown
son in resigning his post Of chief of
the bureau of navigation drew from
the president letter addressed to Sec
rotary Metcalf, in which he plainly
showed his irritation and even indigna-
ton at Brownson' s course. The pres
ident characterized the action of the
late bureau chief In rendering his res
ignation because he did not agree with
the president and the department re-
garding an order issued before he came
into the bureau as to the control of the
hospital ships as "unseemly and I'M
proper and coupled with the various
controversies among the officers of the
navy and their sadherents as to details
Of naval construction and methods of
training has undoubtedly been preju-
dicial to the interests of the navy and
may seriously impair the confidence in
the navy, which is essential to secur-
ing the legislation which is SO sorely
needed by the navy" He further says
that there is no room for difference
of opinion as to the gross improperly
of the admiral's conduct in resigning
sooner than carry out the orders of his
superior officers in such matter. Tie
officers Of the navy must remember
that it is not merely childish, but In
the highest degree reprehensible, to
permit either personal pique, wounded
vanity or fractional feeling on behalf
of some particular bureau or organiza-
ton to render them disloyal to the In
terests Of the navy and therefore OF
the country as a whole" The presi-
dent states that there have been SO
much Misrepresentation and eSaggera-
ton that he wishes the secretary to
make him statement as to the exact
facts concerning which there has been
dispute aud particularly wishes him to
get the opinion of Admiral Converse,
who until last spring was chief of the
bureau of navigation and whose high
professional standard of conduct and
knowledge render him peculiarly fit to
give Judgment.
The day following the publication of
the above letter the president gave to
the public the letter OF Admiral Brown
son resigning his position as bureau
chief This letter is dated Dec. "a.
After referring to the honor conferred
upon him in appointing him to the post
he was then holding lie intimates that
his usefulness in that position will be
impaired by the lack of confidence
shown in placing n medical officer In
command Of hospital ship contrary
to his advice. a course which he con-
siders clearly opposed to the intent of
the law, a radical departure from es-
tablished naval usage and fraught with
danger to the efficiency of the feet"
In view of this he felt that there was
no alternative but to tender his resig-
nation.
Doctor to Command Relief.
BY direction of the president Secrc-
tary of the Navy Metcalf signed an or
der directing Surgeon Charles +.
Stokes to take command of the hos
pital ship Relief. This is the last step
in the controversy which resulted In
the resignation of Rear Admiral Brown
son from. the Office of chief of the bu-
reau Of navigation. In connection with
this action the president transmitted
10 the secretary Il letter defending his
course and citing the precedents in the
American AMI other navles for sucl,
procedure.
TAFT Urges Higher Pay.
n his ANIMAL report Secretary of
War Taft presents Gsures showing a
rapid decrease in The strength OF the
regular army IN recent years, the net