Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-06
PRESIDENT
FORMER
BUREAUHEAD
''UNSEEMLY AND IMPROPER"
HIS CONDUCT
CHIEF EXECUTIVE DEFENDS HIS
OWN POSITION
Letter from White House Asserts
Navigation Experts Actions in
Resiening Bordered on
the Childish

BY Associated Press
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. President
Roosevelt's attitude on the question of
the command of the hospital ships in
the navy, which resulted in the resigna-
tion of Rear Admiral Willard II. Brown
son, and incidentally some caustic OBJ
servations on that incident, and the con-
troversles among the naval officers and
their adherents as to details of naval
construction and methods of training
We're made known today when Secretary
Metcalf gave to the press, two letters
from the president addressed to him on
these subjects.
In the first of these letters President
Roosevelt condemns in unmeasured terms
the act of Admiral Brownson, declaring
it TO be unseemly and improper The
question upon which Admiral Brownson
took issue with the navy department.
the president declares, is one on which
there can be entirely legitimate differ
ences of opinion, but, he adds, there is
no room for differences of opinion as to
the gross improperly of the admiraPs
conduct in resigning sooner than carry
out the orders of his superior officers in
such a matter. The officers of the navy
must remember that it is not merely
childish, but In the highest degree rep
rehensible to permit personal pique,
wounded vanity or factional feelt1s on
behalf of some particular bureau or or
ganization to render them disloyal to
the interests of the navy and therefore
of the country as a whole"
Admits There Are Defects
Regarding the controversy in the navy
the president admits there always were
and always will be defects, both in the
construction of the ships and in the
organization OF the department and In the
actual drill of the fleet 1t is well, he
says, that these defects be pointed out
but 1t is also well that they should be
pointed out without exaggerations or ma
licious untruthfulness.
He scathingly rebukes those guilty of
| exploiting them in grossly exaggerated
| form in the fancied interest of an in
| dividual or clique of individuals, or for
the sake of supplying sensational ma
| terial to newspapers.
| Because of so much misrepresentation
| and exaggeration the president has asked
Secretary Metcalf for a statement OF
the exact facts concerning which there
have been disputes. desiring particularly
| the opinion of Admiral Converse, former
| ly chief of the navigation bureau. who
because of his high professional attain
ments and standard of conduct and duty,
the president considers particularly fitted
| to give judgment.
The letter to Secretary Metcalf re-
| gardIng the retirement of Admiral
Brownson and the controversies is as
| follows:
"The White House, Washington. Jan. 2.
| 1908.
"The Secretary of the Navy: In ac-
cordance with our conversation of today
| Capt. Pilishury will be appointed chief
of the bureau of navigation.
Scores 6rownson
"The action Of the late chief of the
| bureau. Admiral Brownson. in rendering
his resignation because he did not agree
with the president and the department
regarding an order issued before he came
| into the bureau by the secretary oc the
navy as to the control of the hospital
ships was unseemly and improper. and,
| coupled with the various controversies
among the officers OF the navy and their
adherents as to details of naval con-
/ struction and methods of training has
undoubtedly been prejudicial to the In
| terasts of the navy and may seriously
| impair the confidence in the navy, which
| is essential 20 secure the legislation so
sorely needed by the navy. The way
| In which these controversies have been
carried out is highly injurious to the
service, whether the communications are
| made openly over the signatures OF the
naval officers or by civilians who have
evidently gained their information from
naval officials.
'"There always are and always will be
! defects to correct, both in the construc-
ton of ships and the organization OF
the department. and in the actual drill
| of the fleet. 1t is well that these de-
| fects should be pointed out. but IL is
also well that they should be pointed
out without hysterical exaggeration or
malicious untruthfulness; while 1t is, of
course, reprehensible In the highest de-
gree to exploit them in grossly exag-
gerated form in the fancied interest of
an individual or clique of individuals.
OF for the sake of supplying sensational
material to some service or non-service
newspapers.
"The OFFICERS Of the navy who are
| guilty of such conduct deserve grave
rebuke. They cast discredit upon the
service and their conduct is deeply NOR
| tifying to every American who believes
in the navy and Is anxious to uphold its
interests and heroes.
| There has been so much misrepresen-
| tation that desire you to make to me q
| statement as to the exact facts concern
| ing which there has been dispute. In
particular desire you to get the opinion
OF Admiral Converse, who until last
spring was the chief of the bureau Of
navigation, and whose high professional
standard of conduct and duty and high
professional knowledge and attainments
render him particularly flt to give iudg-
ment.
81 would willingly pass over the con-
duct of Admiral Brownson because OF
his fine service in the past IL It were
not that at a time when new chief
is chosen to succeed him 1t becomes Inn
perative to stamp with disapprovai the
behavior which, II followed throughout
the navy generally, would literally ruin
/ the navV's efficiency. The question as
to whether Admiral Brownson took iscue