Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-08

Senator Dollivcr, the other day. re-.
lated romance In his state which
shows how even the rigorous regula.
lions OF the army ara sometimes set
aside when hearts are breaking aud
Il woman and her child need the sup.
port OF a husband and fa,her. About
three years ago. Senator Dollivcl
said, German earl went to Des
Moines. Iovti. and found employment,
at the military post. She was a won
derful beauty and WIS much sough,
after by the soldiers. many OF whom
desired 10 marry her She waa n
nally won by musician belonging tc
tho cavalry regiment, and the consen.
OF the colonel OF the regiment was
obtained and the MARRIAGE was cele
brlted in one OF Tho ofilcer's quarters
On account OF the beauty and popu.
larity OF the young German girl Il
wTls an event Of much interest, parti
cipated In by many persons connected
With the pest. The pay OF n musician
In tho army is ncn sufficient TO sup
port n family. and Mrs. Henry Mel
som the name which the German sir
had acquired. continued her employ
ment at the post.
War is terrible thing. and espe
chilly for the wives of enlisted men
When the regimenp moves there IL NO
place for the woman who has become
the wife of one CT Uncle Snm's sol.
dicrs. Tho regiment 10 which Henri,
Nelson lent inspiring tones through
his musical instrument was ordered
to duty In Cuba, and those orders
prohibited either tho wives or chill
dren of enlisted men from accom-
pany!ng them. MIS-. Nelson no longe,
had employment at the post, and she
went TO Fort Dodge. Ia. sekiry en-
pioyment. But baby came and she
was no longer able to earn a living
She wanted her husband to conn
home and take care OF her, and aho
wrote to the war department askInr
for his discharge. Tho war depart.
mcnt wrote that the application mus.
come through the regular channela
She wrote TO her husband to make
application through those channels
which he did La was approved 10
his Immediate commanding officers
but when il reached the higher ON
GERS OF the army II was marked "dis.
'hFPiCFCA, III llllb 10TH THIuTQeC
10 Musician Nelson.
At thls stage of the proceeding
Mrs. Nelson appealed 10 Senator Do
liver. who wept TO see Secretary Tai,
After he had explained the situation
report from some officers In the
army was produced which stated tina
l private had no business to get mar
lied. but Senator Doiliver suggested
hat the marriage was approved b,
the officers of the regiment and i;
occurred In one OF the ofiicer's quar-
teIS, and anyhow, It had got beyond
question OF what should have been
The proper procedure and resolved II
self into Il question whether the mar
could be discharged or NOT. Secretary
Tafts big heart was opened and he
IT once directed Gen. Ainsworth tc
issue an order directing Musician
Henry Nelson TO report Mt DEF
Moines. and that INC then be granite Z
III honorable discharge from the
army. This is not In accordance with
the desires Of the officers. who do no
want enlisted men discharged. but 81
seemed to Secretary Taft n most mer
itorious case and one where military
discipline should be relaxed, and sc
the pretty GermaN woman will soor
see her husband.
Senator Dolliver also had another
experience with the war department
md this story also shows that Secre-
fary Taft has that broad human sym
nahy fer mankind which accounts for
his popularity wherever he Is known
A young man named Brown. living In
'owa, enlisted In the United States
.rmy. He had been brought up Us o
iod-fearing young man. attendirc
Sunday school, and was an Epwor.l
league ntmbcr. aEd he carried the
principles inculcated by these asro
cations into his military life. Tho
+houghtless men OF the army made &
great deal OF fun OF this young mar
and ridIculed his religious notions
This caused him to grow nelauchol,
md finally, wber he thought he coult
stand 1t no longer. he took "plker's
leave" and went home. His fatheI
was very much distressed ty his np
pearance, being an old Union soldier
II the civil war who had imbibed no
tiong which were mot in accordance
with the action OF his sen. "DeSe =
ion does not ruin in this family" thf
Did man declared. and although an
4 poor man. / will raise money enough
% send YOU back to your post" Il
happened that tho yorrlg mans com
,any was at San Francisco. ard thith
n he went and reported TO meet the
,harge OF desertioD. The court mar
'ial by which he WAS tried prompt,
sentenced him 10 the full limit 70,
he crime OF desertion, which was two
years in the penitentiary.
The father Thought this was very
harsh Treatment. and wrote Senator
Dolliver to that effect. stating all hf
circumstances. Senator Deliver laid
The case before Secretary Taft ant