The Washington herald., 1908-05-12


.porters of the administration, but in
.cluded leaders who have resented bitterly
the encroachment OF the Executive. and
In consequence have been unpopular at
the White House. They are willing to
forget the past for the moment in the
realization Of the embarrassing position
in which a considerable number of them
will be placed if publicity is given to the
characteristic personal letters written by
Mr. Roosevelt TO Senators Smith, Rayner.
and Stewart in regard TO the Brownsville
affair. and the case Of Col. William F
Stewart Of the army, the exile Of Fort
Grant"
Could Not Evade Replying.
II is clear 20 many OF them that once
the Presidents defiant views in these
matters. as expressed in his communion
tions 20 Senators, are spread upon the
record, the Senate. for the sake of its
own pride and dignity, will be obliged 70
adopt some sort Of response reply to
the throne, as it were-that must take the
form Of a rebuSe 20 the President.
So Senate leaders, administration men,
and anti-administration men alike.
worked like beavers yesterday In the hope
OF avoiding an issue which would show
to the country that the Senate regarded
Mr.. Roosevelts claim 10 supreme, undi-
ylded authority over the land and naval
forces as dangerous 10 the welfare Of the
nation.
How well they succeeded is problem
aticaI They obtained no assurance from
Senator Foraker that he would not press
his motion 10 make his Brownsville bill
the unfinished business OF the Senate, and
while some found cause for hope In the
fact that Mr Foraker agreed not to press
his motion until after the post-ofice ap-
preparation bill was out OF the way, there
is much head-shaking and other silent ex-
pressions Of doubt that Mr.. Foraker will
consent TO let his EFFORT 20 obtain rein
statement for the dismissed negro soldiers
die q natural death.
Some Senators Much Angered.
To an outsider 1t is dinicult to realize
the condition Of feeling that has been
developed among Senators over the Pres
ident's letters to three Of their colleagues.
His assertions that he is independent
Of Congress in the exercise Of command
over the army and that even If the For
aker bill for the relief Of the negro infan-
trymen were enacted over his veto he
would refuse to obey its provisions. have
made some Of the older solons white with
rage Then. too. there Is indignation over
his analogy between the views OF Senators
who objected to his wholesale dismissal
Of the COlored troops and the maudlin
sympathy for murderers that exists in
every community"
However, the main point in the whole
business is that Mr.. Roosevelt has given
advance notice 10 individual Senators
that he will refuse to obey q law OF
/ the land. This the Senate cannot over
look. according to what is said by men,
( bers Of that body. If the letters are
made public. and present efforts are being
/ directed to keeping them under the seal
/ Of confidence.
RayneF'S Resolution n Fuse.
/ But It was admitted last evening that
/ great danger threatened the plans Of
| the leaders in the discussion To-day Of
/ a resolution presented yesterday by SEN
! ator Rayner. OF Maryland in regard to
! the case Of Col Stewart The Stewart
! case and the Brownsville case are core
lated by reason OF the Presidents at
titude In regard to his supremacy Of
/ control over the army.
! Senator Rayner has asked the Presi-
dent to grant Col. Stewards request for
la court Of inquiry. and the President
/ in reply has in effect expressed the view
/ that Congress has nothing to do with the
| case. II Senator RayneT reads this let
! ter-and it is understood that he viii do
SOFT may open the way for a reference
/ TO the more sensational letters to Sena-
! tors Smith and Stewart. What wal hap
pen in that event, nobody IS in a position
/ to say with any degree of positiveness.
Reeites Stewards Mfsireatment.
In the resolution presented yesterday
| Senator Rayner declares that charges and
| accusations have been filed with the Pres
ident against Col. William F. Stewart, Of
the Coast Artillery, and that Col. stewart
has not been furnished a copy OF these
allegations Attention is called 10 the
/ facts that twice Col. Stewart has asked
! for a court OF inquiry. that the requests
have been denied, and that he Is without
opportunity to defend himself against
ex-parte accusations which caused the
President 70 send him 70 Fort Grant,
Ariz., a deserted post, and 10 transfer
him later to st. Augustine, Fla. without
command, and then back 10 Fort Grant
Senator Rayner refers to this action as
/ punishment" and the resolution itself
authorizes and directs the President
TO convene a court Of inquiry, to consist
1 of FIVE officers of the army. to investigate
1 the charges against Col. Stewart.
VIII Call 1t Up To-day.
Mr. Rayner gave notice that he would
call up his resolution to-day. He will
make his main argument on the c0nten-
tion that any officer whose chara ,ter and
fitness to command have been brought
into question, or against whom any
charges. direct or indirect, specific or
general, are pending. is entitled by right
20 court of inquiry. Senator Rayner
will confne himself to the legal and
| constitutional aspects Of the case, and
will cite many precedeEts TO establish his
position. That the Commander -in-chief
OF the army is subject TO the dictate Of
Congress in time Of peace viii be asserted
/ by Mr.. Rayner, who viii contend ALSO
that the President has inflicted punish
ment on Col. Stewart and that he had no
| legal right 10 infiict a penalty on an Off
Ger without a trial
Think President in Wrong.
Senators who are following the matter
closely hinted last evening that Col. Stew
arts request for a court Of inquiry ought
| to be granted by the President. This
would concede Senator Rayner's conten-