The Washington times., 1908-05-10
EXPECT PRESIDENT
TO CHECK FORAKER
Senators Think He Will
Publish Offending
Letters.
Ohio Man Would Force
Issue on Army
Questions.


get 10 IL FIRST?
This is the burning question that has
arisen in connection with the sending
Of three burning Executive letters 10
three Senator'S.
As the betting goes. the odds are in
favor Of the President. The letters
nave not yet beer made public. Senator
Foraker gave notice in the Senate yes
terday afternoon that on Monday he
would call up his bill for the reinstate-
ment Of the discharged soldiers of the
twenty fifth Infantry, and would move
mat 1t be made the unfinished business
Ia this connection, he expects to call
Tor the production Of the letters which
the President has sent to Senator VIII
liam Alden Smith, Senator Stewart and
Senator Rayner.
But Ihe Presidents theory of the
proper method Of conducting a contro-
Versy, whether it be with the gloves or
with battleships or anything else is
10 parry by striking. Accordingly. il
Is expected tnat the President will make
the letters public before Senator For
aker has any opportunity to demand
that they be produced in the Senate
by so doing, the President would fore
stan the Senator from Ohio, and thus
Would. rob the expected debate over the
Oils Tor the re-enlistment of tile dis
charged soldiers of what might other
wise prove a spectacular feature.
Knows Their Contents.
Senator Foraker said yesterday that
he had seen the letters written by the
president TO Senators Smith and stew
arr that he was fully aware of their
contents that he considered il his duty
q W4rr,f Ito
70 light that when the Senate tool, nm
the Brownsville matter in accordanc..
win his notice, he would call for the
letters. ard that. If they were not forth
coming. he would feel impelled 10 sd-
wise the Senate OF their contents.
On the other hand, Il is given ont
from nigh quarters that when the Presi-
dent returns tomorrow morning from
virginia. he will promptly see 10 il. in
all likelihood. that the letters are made
public II is not stated positively that
such a decision has been reached. but
ais close advisers expect him to do It.
1t probably will not be possible for
the Senate TO take up the Brownsville
question until late tomorrow afternoon
When adjournment was taken yester-
day the agricultural appropriation bill
was being discussed. An agreement was
reached to meet at IL O'Clock Monday 10
consider this bin, TO enforce the ten
minute rule at O'Clock. and TO vote on
the bill and amendments at (.
Action Will Be Late.
It is not expected that Senator Fora
ker Will try to bring up the Brownsville
question in any fashion until this appro-
Priation measure IS disposed of. and ne
informed the Senate yesterday after
noon, subsequent to his earlier notice,
that he would not seek to delay con-
sideration of the postOffice appropria-
ton bill if it .rere desired to take this
up after the agricultural bill
When Senator Foraker does move TO
make his bill for reinstatement Of the
colored soldiers the unfinished business,
ne viii ask for the displacement of the
EIkins resolution relative 10 the com
modities clause OF the Hepburn bill
About the c rridors and cIoakrooms
yesterday there was much discussion
of the letters the President has written
TO Senators, wherein he says IN sub
stance. that he will veto the Foraker
bill for the reinstatement Of the col
Ored troops. If passed, and will ignore it
IL passed over his veto. But the dis
cussion was not accompanied with ac-
ton. save on the part OF Senator Fora
l<er in giving notice relative TO making
his bill the unfinished business Sena-
tors resent the tone Of the Presidents
letters. Their contents are quite well
known on the floor. But when it comes
10 doing anything about it. that is an,
other matter.
Won't Hold Conference.
The talk that the Republican Senators
might hold a conference TO consider tho
Brownsville case and the questions
raised by the Presidents letters. died
away IN the course Of the day 1t was
given out fatty by Republicans high on
the steering committee that no such
conference would be held. It was point-
ed out that 10 hold Il conference would
be 10 accentuate the letter episode aud
all the difficulties that bese, the Repub-
lican side of the Senate en- account OF
the brownsville matter.
As the situation stands now IL is eX-
pected that Senator Foraker and those
Senators who are aligned with him on
the Brownsville matter viii take occa-
sion to express their feelings about the
Presidents defiant uttcrances: but there
IS little indication of any action thar
might be construed as cepsUre Of the
President.
Senator Rayner OF Maryland has pre-
pared n resolution dealing with the case
Of Col. William +. Stewart. ;hc army
officer who has been banishcd 10y the
Presidents order to a modern St. Hele-
ma, IN the deserts OF Arizona. This res
olution will call for tho correspondence
IN the Stewart case and for court OF
inquiry. Senator Rayner has asked the
President for a court OF inquiry on the
Colonel Stewart case. The President
has promised to- consider his request.
and senator Rayner did not act yester-
day. but deferred action Until the Presi-
dent could return.
May Grant Court.
Should the President grant the court
Of inquiry. as II is not believed he viii
do, Senator Rayners resolution would
not be necessary. Senator Rayner is
anxious 10 prevent the stewart case get
ting tangled up with the Brownsville
case The reason for this IS clear. Tile
Senate Democrats are supporting the
President with reference 10 Brownsville.
but they are expected TO take Il different