The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-13
WHITE HOUSE
CAR SCORED
IN THE SENATE
Rank Injustice Done Col. Stew
- art Discussed by Rayner
OF Maryland.
PUNISHED BECAUSE
ROOSEVELT SEES FIT
CHARGE AGAINST ARMY OFFICER
is THAT HE oUARRELED
WITH PLUMBER.

washington, May Ex-senator Rayner of
Maryland today spoke in the senate on his
resolution directing the appointing of a
committee to investigate charges against
Colonel William F. Stewart of the coast
artillery, now stationed at Fort Grant
tAriz-), by order Of the president. say
ing communication had been sent to
Colonel Stewart informing him that i'm
provements would be made in the sani-
tary conditions of Fort Grant if he de-
sired. Mr. Rayner added:
Frivolous Charges.
The same sort of communication passed
tp Dreyfus. think. The charges against
Colonel Stewart" said Mr.. Rayner, ARE
frivolous and petty, and don't, in the
slightest degree, reflect on his character
as man, his character as a citizen or
his courage as a soldier. One of them
is that he has 'temperamental infirmi-
ties
THE president has come to the conclu-
sion that Colonel Stewart is a man who
wants to have his own way"
Colonel Stewart, he said. had his own
Ideas about his duties and did not pro-
Torrance.
This charge. declared Mr. Rsyner. lis
not one Colonel Stewart makes against
the president, but that the president
makes against Colonel Stewart
Refined Sarcasm
He has not" continued Mr.. Rayner
the temperament of the president that
fine system of adjustment that always
4ggestS restraint. calmnesS and mOdera-
tFon. He thinks Colonel Stewart should
Yield as he. the president. has done on
similar occasions. 1t is known that the
president never INDUCES in fOrcible and
vehement excelsior. either in oral or writ
ten communications: that he is free from
many of tie faults of the race, and that
he has given us the most serene and
placid presidential epoch we have ever
beon blessed with
Presidents Reply to Rayner.
Mr.. Rayner read his letter to the pres
ident stating his purpose to introduce in
the senate a resolution demanding an in
Quiry into the Stewart case and then
read the presidents reply. interpolating
his own comments on the presidents
words as he went along.
AT present | do not see how a court
of inquiry could be of use" the presi-
dent stated in his letter, "as l do not
opinion which l could pay more heed to
than the Judgment of Wade, Grant Muir
ray, Duvall and Davis, on whose judg-
ment / have acted"
declare that with a single exception these
officers named by the president had been
pESmoted over the head OF Colonel Stew
arb 70 the positions they now occupy.
Had Made Up His Mind.
Continuing, he read the presidents let
ter saving the cha>es against Colonel
Stewart already had Deen established and
he did not see what more court of in
quiTy could do. This" exclaimed MI.
Rayner. SIS the presidents interpreta-
ton of his constitutional prerogative. 1t
has never been paralleled in the military
records of American history
The presidents letter to Mr.. Rayner
stated that he would give further consid-
Grafton TO the senator's demand for a
court of inquiry. The president added
that there, was nothing to find out. as
nothing additional could more clearly es-
tabiish the facts. and said this was one
of the many cases of contentious" army
officers demanding courts of inquiry TO
grant which would destroy the discipline
of the army The president added that
he did not understand Mr. Rayners al
fusion TO a joint resolution of congress.
Il advised him TO consult his attorney
general. but ] DO not suppose he could
Arrow much light on it either" inter-
posed Mr.. Rayner, amid laughter.
Under Control of Congress.
Mr. Rayner declared that the president
as cOmmander-in-chief of the army. was
under the control of congress. and had
no right to inflict punishment
Mr.. Rayner discussed from a legal
point or view prece0entS fOf congress or
dering courts of inQuiry-partcularly the
cases of General Howard and Admiral
Schley. Taking up the point to what
courts Of inquiry. the senator
said the authorities We're all against the
president having the slightest right to
punish an officer without a court and no
general had such right He
declared that the president was deter
mined to keep Colonel Stewart in exile
for three years. when he would be retired
on account of age, and he added:
Nothing Like II in Europe.
1.-The president says to him. Stay there
or surrender and retire No such edict
was ever contemplated in the imperial
armies of continental Europe
He declared that abroad army officers
lose their identity, but in the United
States the constitution guarantees every
mans life, liberty and property unless
taken from him by due process of law.
Mr.. Rayner brought out the fact that
Colonel Stewards wife was a cousin of
the late Senator Pinckney Whyte. and
of William Pinckney
of Maryland. The senator reviewed again
Continued on Page 2.
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