The Washington herald., 1908-05-10
CONGRESS LEADERS
FEAR HIS RETURN
Watch with Dread for Pres
ident's Homecoming.
RAYNER PRIMED FOR ACTION
Maryland Senator Asked 10 With
hold stewart Case from Senate Tn
til Executive Gets Back 10 the
White HouSe-Leaders Hope TO
Avert the Threatened Clash.

with keen pleasure and deep satisfac-
ton Republican members IN Congress
are reading the all too brief press dis
patches from North Garden. Va. tell
ing Of the active out door life which
President Roosevelt is leading among the
red hills OF AIbemarle County.
Each account Of discovery Of a wren's
nest or the flushing Of a cuckoo is hailed
with delight. There is no mention Of a
stenographer in any OF the reports.
It is good news. to the Senate and the
House that the President is enjoying him
self, and the hope is expressed that he
and his venerable naturalist friend, John
Burroughs, will continue their studies Of
bird life for several days to come.
It is hardly likely. however. that the
President will remain away from town
beyond tomorrow. Senator Rayner, Of
Maryland. has received word from the
President. through Secretary Loeb. that
Mr.. Roosevelt will be back then. and will
be obliged If Mr.. Rayner VIII not present
any resolution for investigation of the
case of Col. William F. Stewart. of the
army. until Mr.. Roosevelts return. From
all accounts, as well as appearances, Mr.
Rayner is impatient Of any delay in this
matter, and is not disposed 10 keep silent
for more than twenty-four hours after
the President arrives in Washington.
Inquiry Not Probable,
It is not probable that the President
viii grant Col. Stewards demand for a
court Of inquiry. and in that event Mr..
Rayner will deliver an attack on the
Presidents position, which may preclpi-
tate a crisis in the relations between the
Executive and the legislature.
In his letters to Senators Rayner, Smith,
Of Michigan. and Stewart. of Vermont.
concerning the efforts In Congress to
restore to the army the negro soldiers
dismissed for alleged participation in the
Brownsville ARRAY, and to obtain Justice
for Col, Stewart, the President laid down
the principle that as Commander-in-Ch Chief
Of the army, he was supreme in his au-
thority over the military establishment,
and in that supremacy was not amenaBle
to the dictates Of the legislative branch
Of the government,
As told In The Washington Herald yes
terday, these letters created a sensation
among Senators. who generally manifest
ed disposition to resent Mr., Rooseyelt's s
70 ha sv1as, oL1o L
that affected the personnel Of the army.
Trying to Suppress Letters.
The excitement ameng the Senators in
creased instead Of diminished yesterday.
Political expediency had come to the
front over night, however, and had
tempered the feeling of indignation which
threatened to break out in open denuncia-
| ton, Leaders were at work seeking to
bring about an arrangement whereby the
opportunity weuld not be presented for
reference to or the reading of the Presi-
dents letters, for it is realized that
should the Presidents announcement that
he would refuse to obey an act of Con-
gress directing him to restore the dis
charged negro soldiers become a matter
of public record, the Senate would feel
Obliged to make declaration in response
that would be tantamount to a censure
of the Executive.
The Republicans are concerned over
the political effect Of any such censure.
yet for the life of them they dc not ses
/ how it can be avoided, once the Presi-
dents defiant language becomes known
to the country.
Senator RayneT, in the speech which he
| intends to deliver on the Stewart case.
will confine himself TO the legal points
Continued On Page 4, Column i.