Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-14
COL STEWARDS CASE.
Rayner Wants Court Of Inquiry Ap
pointed BY Senate's Order.

washington, May Ex-senator Rayner
TODAY in the Senate called up his joint
resolution directing the President to ap-
point a court of inquiry in the case OF
Col. William +. Stewart, and said that
if he, could be assured of a report our
ing the present week he would not OBJ
ject to giving it to the committee on mil
itary affairs He was willing to change
the resolution making it merely an eX-
presson of the opinion of the Senate and
having it request instead of direct the
President to appoint court of inquiry
Senator Warren, chairman of the COM
mittee on military affairs, said he would
submit the resolution promptly to his
committee but could not promise just
how soon a report would be made.
1.-THE resolution" said Mr.. Warren. ''is
not only a reproof to the President, but
it is an attack on the discipline of the
army, and in way of the navy also
This case has been passed upon by many
general officers of the army from the
chief of staff down. Presidents may
come and Presidents may go, and I'M
doubtedly we will have someone else in
the chair after the fourth of next March.
but there must be discipline in the ar
N.Y.
He objected to establishing a prece-
dent by which army orders to officers
may be held up by appealing to SEN
ator.
This statement accompanied q motion
bv Mr. Warren to refer the resolution to
the military committee, motion which
followed a suggestion by Senator AL
hot he given
to consider the resolution at this time.
The discussion was on the motion to re-
| fer
| 1.-THE right of man to a trial before
| punishment and the attitude OF the Pres-
ident that he holds 6. constitutional office
| as commander-in-chief of the army IN
which he is not responsible to law" de-
clared Mr. Bacon, ARE the questions OF
importance in this case. So far as the
officer is concerned" he added, Il am not
favorably impressed with him. He has
not been a desirable officer at the va,
rious posts he had been sent to-"
Mr.. Rayner said lie had modified his
resolution to express the opinion of tho
Senate that Col. Stewart was entitled te
a court of inquiry and "requested' the
President to grant the court of inquiry
| Something of a sensation was created
by Senator Warren asking Kaynel
whether he had approached the Execu
tive with threat that if this man wa!
not removed from Fort Grant this reso
luton would be presented to the Senate.
# utterly deny that proposition" re
piled Rayner, >"and hope the Executive
has not made such a statement"
| fnr txrf
years until two weeks ago when lie wa:
requested to go to the White House. The
President then showed him voluminou:
typewritten matter about Col. Stewart
He had not ''threatened' the President
only stating that unless the court of in
curry was ordered he would offer a res
olution in the Senate. Warren said hi
question was suggested by newspaper re
ports only.
Talaferro Fla, had letter read show
ing that Col Stewart had been ordered
away from Fort st. Francis, st. Angus
tine. merely because of protest by tn.
state of Florida, which has control O.
Fort st. Francis. He had received let
ter from the President in which the lat
ter said the punishment inflicted upor
Col. Stewart was incident to the discip
lire of the army and concluded by say
ing that as commander-in-chief he Meth
err could nor would surrender the RICH
to exercise such judgment. He expressed
the opinion that a court martial Nigh
be necessary to provide punishment fo
Col. Stewart.
The resolution was then referred to thu
committee on military affairs, Mr.. War
rem saving that Rayner would be wei
come to appear before the committee.