The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-09

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NV Three members OF the United
NV States Senate have received
Wv letters from President
Roosevelt within the last
few days declaring his supremacy as
commander-in-c chief In all matters re-
ferring to the control of the army and
navy. The letters have created in
tense feeling in the Senate, and It is
not unlikely that they will precipitate
a conference OF Republican members
The letters in every case are in de-
tense Of his course In discharging
without honor the negro soldiers he
believed to be guilty Of shooting up
the town OF Brownsville. Tex, and his
action in banishins Colonel William
+. Stewart to an abandoned military
post in a desert section of Arizona.
Letter to Stewart.
The third letter came to-day to SEN
ator Stewart, Of Vermont.
A few days ago during the debate on
the Brownsville case, Senator Stewart
asked question indicating that he
had doubt as to the wisdom OF ex-
tending to the President the power OF
passing upon the innocence or guilt
OF ex-soldiers applying for reinstate-
ment in view of the fact that it ap-
peared the President still believes all
OF the negroes to have been guilty OF
completely In the affray.
The Senator received from the Presi-
dent to-day letter bearing on both
the Colonel Stewart and the Browns
VILE cases. Attached to the comnuni-
cation were letters to Senator's Rayner
and William Alden Smith, the one to
MIR. Rayner asserting chiefly the Presi-
dents right as communicative chief to
deal with an officer In such manner as
he pleased. while the one to Mr.. Smith
was confined to the Brownsville affray
and reiterated the Presidents belief
that he had dealt with the case as con.
ditions demanded.
oIaudlin Sympathy.
The President went farther still in
his letter to Senator Stewart. He de.
ciared that Senator Stewart, from tthe
question he asked in the debate, ap.
peared to be proceeding under a mis-
apprehension of the duties Of the
President of the United States IN con-
ncction with the army and navy. He
quoted the law as he understood 1t,
and denied that he was under any obli-
CATION to give to the discharged. negro
soldiers or to Colonel Stewart any
court OF inquiry. Several paragraphs
were devoted to a discussion of Colonel
Stewact's case and the faults which
have put him in disrepute in army
circles.
After this discussion the President
wrote that in every, community there
is found maudlin sympathy with mur'
derers, and the Thaw case in New Yorl
is cited by him as an example.
VIII Complicate Matters.
None of the Senator'S who have re.
ceived letters from the White House
have decided whether they will make
them public. All have been asked t
do so. Senator Smith of Michigan
declined on the ground that 1t would
be improper, and Senator Rayner !!
preparing to use the letter in speech
which he will make to the Senate de
nouncing the action Of the Presiden
In banishing Colonel Stewart to For
Grant. Arizona. Senator Stewar
showed to several of his colleagues
the letter which he received, bu
thus far has made no disposition of 1t
Several Senators said to-day that th'
letters would have the effect of com
plicating the situation In regard t
legislation in the interest of the limo
cent members of the battalion o
negroes discharged on account OF TIL
Brownsville affray. There are twt
bills before the Senate looking to tina
end 1t is generally believed that tn,
Republican Senator's will hold q caucu
for the discussion of the entire ques
ton. Including the Presidents letters
n a weak