Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-06-01
By WILLIS j. ABBOT.


dent upon his right to dominate legis-
tation and particularly upon his I'M
qualified and unhampered power over
the United States army and navy has
been pretty vigorously discussed in the
senate of late.
1t is Il matter of nOtOriety that there
are in existence three letters from the
president to United States senators
bearing partly upon the Brownsville
incident, partly upon the singular case
of Colonel Stewart of the coast artil-
lery, who has been sent into exile in
Arizona. In these letters the president
notifies his senatorial correspondents
that if the senate passes Mr.. For
aker's bill for the reinstatement of the
troops dismissed on account of the
Brownsville incident he will veto the
bill. If congress passes it over his
veto. he will refuse to pay attention to
1t. He holds that his power over the
army and the navy as commander in
chief is superior to that of congress.
Beyond conceding congress the power
of making the necessary appropria
tloho Loi tIc Supppit vi tiic Ill ilci SCI v
ice of the United States he gives The
legislative branch of the government
no authority in the premises.
The story was current about the cap
ital Il day or two ago that in explain
ing his position on the subject to a Wis.,
itor Mr.. Roosevelt pointed out that
King Edward VII. was commander in
chief of the British armed forces and
that parliament could not interfere
with his direction of them. The pres
ident is said to have wound up his re-
marks with the statement, I'm this re-
spect I am like the king of England"
One of the senators to whom this re-
mark was repeated said eXplosively:
1--WE all wish he were more like the
king of England. King Edward adj
dresses parliament once at each ses-
sion with very brief speech prepared
by his ministers. He does not bonn
bard the Legislative branch every two
or three days with messages covering
everything from race suicide and spell
ing reform to battleships and forest
reserves. With the title of king, Ed
ward VII. seems to repose some con-
1idcnce in the ability of the English
people TO govern themselves and to
select members Of parliament who
may be trusted to carry out the popu-
lar will. While he is in charge nomi-
nally of the army and navy, he has
not, so far as l know, put a doctor in
command of the army or Il surgeon in
command of a navy vessel. While
Edward is content to be Il king in
name and influence the government
only by quiet and personal suggestions,
Mr.. Roosevelt seems DESTROYS of being
not merely king. but emperor in fact,
with the big stick for sccpter."
There is more of this sort of talk
about the capital than most people
would imagine The growing autocracy
of the administration has produced an
undercurrent Of hostility to Roosevelt
and his immediate circle that every
now and then breaks out into open
protest. This feeling has not been less
ened by the remark of Admiral Ev
ans, the naval pet of the administra-
ton, at san Francisco recently, that
what this nation needs is more bat
tleshpS and fewer statesmen" Some
of the statesmen remember that the
president threatened to veto their pub
lie building bill unless given his full
. programme of four battleShpS, and
they think Evans took his cue from
this "There'll be fewer statesmen"
said one Republican representative in
melancholy tones. "at least fewer Re
publican statesmen, in the next con-
gress if the man in the White House
and his satellites hold to their present
attitude"
Tho Stewart Case.
This is one of the most curious mys-
teries of government today. Colonel
William +. Stewart is colonel in the
coast artillery service. Suddenly he is
detached from his command and or
dered to an abandoned military post
in the middle Of Arizona, twenty-six
miles from village or habitation.
thousands of miles from the coast or
any artillery. and is given command of
exactly one private. who accompanies
him to attend to his comforts. What
Colonel Stewards crime has been no
body knows. He has been as silent as
a sphinx so far as any public state
mcnt is concerned He did appeal to
the war department and was informed
that if he would voluntarily retire his
retirement would be accepted, but if
he refused to retire he must remain in
exile. Having nearly four more years
to serve before the age of involuntary
retirement, he declined that PROPOSE
ton. Some friends interesting them
selves in his case, he was transferred
from the Arizona desert to another
abandoned post near st. Augustine.
Fla, but had not unpacked his goods
and chattels there before he was per
emptorily sent back. All of this has
been done to this man, who has spent
his lifetime in the service of the Unit
ed States and is veteran Of two
wars, without one word of expana-
ton. He has not been court martialed
nor even been granted court Of in
guiry. What the high crimes and mis-
demeanors are for which he is con
demned to solitude in the sagebrush