New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-09
SENATOR'S SEEK FIGHT
NAY 1TT4CK PRESIDENT
Made Angry by Letters on Bro5cns-
s9lIe and Ste7cort Case.

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. May S-A determined effort Is
being made by anti-adminstration Senators to
start controversy with the President which
would result in q pyrotechnical closing of the
session The President, it is alleged has writ
ten letters to Senators Smith. of Michigan and
Stewart OF Vermont. in which he expresses his
views regarding proposed Brownsville IegisIa-
tion with characteristic frankness. while A COM
1nunication addressed by the President to Sem
ator Rayner. of Maryland. on the case of
Colonel William T. Stewart is alleged to he
equally emphatic
i Is asserted that in his communication to
Senator Smith the President announces not only
that were the Foraker resolution passed he
would veto il. but that. on the ground that il
would be unconstitutional invasion of the ap-
pointing power delegated exclusively to the ex-
eoutive- he would ignore II if passed over his
veto. In the letter addressed 10 Senator Stew
art the President is declared to have quoted in
fun his letters To Senators Smith and Rayner
and 70 have added an even more scathing con-
demnation Of Colonel Stewart Some of the Sen
ate leaders say that If the opponents of the
President are successful in getting the Smith
letter into The Record il will Immediately be
come Republican caucus matter, and that it is
mora than likely that some Senators would trv
u force the adoption Of resolution protesting
against the course Of the executive in warning a
veto
now under consideration. but will disregard it il
passed over his veto. OF course the weak point
tn the attack planned by the opponents of the
administration is that they are arguing from
hearsay concerning the contents of the execu-
tive communications. that they have thus far
been unsuccessful in obtaining copies of them
and that il is entirely possible that no success
T1A attend their efforts TO make the letters Of
record
60 Eo1z-,
letter addressed 10 him public if his request that
court Of inquiry be appointed to pass on the
case Of Colonel Stewart is denied. The President
Is understood 10 have denied that Colonel Stew
srt has any right to such court. although he has
promised 10 take the advisabifty Of appointing
e court under consideration.
THE CASE OF COLONEL STEWART.
Colonel Stewart was recently on the recon-
rnendation Of Major General DuvaU and with
the approval Of the President. ordered TO an
abandoned post Fort Grant. Arizona. there TO
remain until he Csr he compulsoriy retired two
years hence. Later Secretary Taft moved by
the pleas Of friends OF fhe colonel. procured A
modification Of this order. and he was ordered
% Florida post. Senator Taliaferro immedi-
ately appeared al the White House and besought
tire President 10 rescind the latter order. on the
ground that the post selected was occupied by
TIE Florida militia and because of Colonel Stew
arts unenviable record in Florida. whereupon
the order was rescinded and Colonel Stewart re-
rnained al Fort Grant
The case of Colonel Stewart has caused no lit
lie trouble and anxiety TO the War Department.
His superior officers describe him a with
peculiar disposition. whose sole pleasure in life
appears 70 consist Of making life unbearable for
his subordinates. both commissioned officers and
enlisted men. and Of quarrelling with every civ
F7zr7 n and jS daCl 2 [
Portland. Me. he caused a deplorable state of
affairs and had to be transferred. Assigned to
Fort Barrancas. Florida, il is charged that he
not only engaged in fist fight with his own
So- an officer of Junior rank. but drove his en-
listed men almost TO the point of mutiny- It is
said further. that while Colonel Stewarts pc
llliarities are such actually to prejudice good
order and discipline. he is too clever to render
himself technically amenable 10 such a charge,
and that his rank preserves him from the testi-
rouy Of enlisted men who would cheerfully ap-
pear q witnesses against an officer of lower
rank
n view Of these circumstances Colonel Stew |
an was asked recently retire, out declined TO
d 50 unless first made a brigadier general |
Feeling that il would be unnise TO place a pre-
MUM on conduct 50 inimicaI 10 the service |
ty promoting him or putting him on wait |
iuE orders either Of which would increase |
the only proper course would be practically TO |
exile him To Fort Grant. and the President ap- |
proved the recommendation. Senator Rayner is |
understood 10 take an interest in the case be- /
cause Colonel Stewart is a citizen Of Maryland. |
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.
4 fev days ago. in the debate on the Browns
Vie case. Senator Stewart asked a question in |
e-ing that he had doubt to the wisdom Of |
extending 70 the President the power Of passing |
rn the innocence or guilt Of ex-soldiers apply
i-g for reinstatement. in view Of the fact that
Il appeared the President sti believes all the
negroes 20 have been guilty Of completely in the
afraE. The Senator. II Is said. received from
the President to-day \ letter bearing the
stewart and Brownsville cases. He declared it
Is reported. that Senator Stewart. from the
question he asked in the debate, appeared 10 he
iro1eeGina- under a misapprehenson Of the
duties E the President Of the United States in
connection iJh the army ard navy. He quoted /
lie lan as he understood il, and denied that he
US under any obligation to give 10 the dis
charged negro soldiers to Colonel Stewart any
court of inquiry. Several paragraphs were de-
voted 10 a discussion Of Colonel Stewards case
a.1 Ine faults which have put him in dsrepute
IN army circles After this the President wrote
'hst IL every community there is found maudlin
sympathy with murderers, and the Thaw case.
III NcN York. was cited as an example.