The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-09
President Roosevelt Stands Firm
on His Rights
As Com mander-in-Ch Chief of Army
and Navy.
WRITES TO SENATORS
Who Have Called His Position
in Question.
Matter Probably Will Be Taken
Up at a Conference.

Washington. May 9.-Three MEM
bers of the United States senate have
received letters from President Roose-
welt within the last few days declaring
MS supremacy, as commander-in-
chlef, In all matters referring to the
control of the army and navy. The
letters have created intense feeling in
the senate and it is not unlikely that
tney VIII precipitate a conference of
Republican members. The letters in
every case are in defense of his course
In d1seharging without honor the ne
gro soldiers he believed to be guilty
or shooting up the town of Browns
vie. and his action in banishing Col.
W. +. Stewart to an abandoned mill
tary post in a desert section of Ari-
IONA.
The third letter came today to Sen
ator Stewart of Vermont--A few. days
ago during the debate on the Browns
Vile affair Senator Stewart asked q.
question indicating that he had doubt
as to the wisdom of extending to the
president the power of passing on the
innocence or guilt of ex-soldiers ap-
plying for reinstatement in view of
the fact that it appeared the president
still believes all the negroes have been
guilty of completely in the ARRAY. The
senator was surprised to receive from
the president a letter bearing on both
the Col Stewart and the Brownsville
cases. Attached to the communica-
ton were letters to Senator Rayner
and VIM. Alden Smith, the one to Mr.
Rayner asserting chiefly the presi-
dents right as commander-in-chief to
deal with an officer in such manner
as he pleased while the one to Mr.
Smith was confined to the Brownsville
affair and reiterated the presidents
belief that he had dealt with the case
as condition demanded
He declared that Senator Stewart
from the question he asked in the de-
bate, appeared to be proceeding I'M
Of the president of the United States
in connection with the army and
navy. He quoted the law as he un-
derstood 1t and denied that he was
under any obligation to give the dis
charged negro soldiers or Colonel
Stewart any court of inquiry. Sew
eral paragraphs were devoted to a dis
cussion of Colonel Stewards case and
the faults of his which brought him
in disreputes in army circles. After
this discussion the president wrote
that In every community there is
found maudlin sympathy with MUIR
derers and the Thaw case in New
York is cited by him as an example.
None of the senators who have re-
ceived letters from the White House
have decided whether they will make
them public. All have been asked to
do So. Senator Smith Of Michigan
declined on the ground that it would
be improper and Senator Raynor is
preparing to use the letter to him in
speech which he will make to the
senate denouncing the action of the
president in banishing Colonel Stewart
to Fort Grant, Ariz. Senator Stewart
showed to several of his colleagues
the letter he received, but thus far
has made no disposition of 1t. Sew
era1 senators said today that the
letters would have the effect of COM
plicating the situation in regard to
legislation in the interest of the in
nocent members of the battalion Of
negroes discharged on account of the
Brownsville affair There are two
bills before the senate looking to that
end. 1t is generally believed that the
Republican senators will hold a eau
Gus for the discussion of the entire
question including the presidents
letters next week.