Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1911-08-04
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Court Martial That Mckinley
Would Not Call.
Algers Story Of How the Kindly
President Refused to Have Colonel
Roosevelt Accused and
Put on Trial. Z
sy e. J. EDWARDS.

which occurred In 1907, met for the
last time Russell A. Alger, volun.
teer general in the Civil war, govern
or of and United States senator from
Michigan. q strong candidate for the
Republican presidential nomination in
1888, and secretary of war In the
first Mckinley cabinet.
Whenever think Of William Nc,
kinley | always think first of his low,
able character. and then of his great
tact and wise discretion" said Mr.. Al
ger. And then always recall the
time when |. as secretary OF war, went
to him, as president. to complain OF
one Of Col. Theodore Roosevelt's acts
In Cuba.
mo one who has not served in q
cabinet, or other highly responsible po-
sition under a national admlnistra-
tion. can realize how what seem to
be trivial things, may prove to be OF
the utmost consequence; so that the
tendency is for officials often to ex-
aggerate really unimportant triaes tre-
mendously. This Is especially true dur
Ing a period Of great stress, as when
q war is on; and suppose that that
was largely my state of mind when
| sought out the president in regard to
Col. Roosevelt
AT any rate, there appeared one
morning In the newspapers the SUBJ
stance of a communication from Col,
Roosevelt in which he appeared to crit
icise the war department because his
regiment was getting insufficient or
improper food. There was, also, a de-
mand that the Rough Riders be imme-
diately ordered from Cuba to some
place where the fevers that were i'm.
pairing their health and efficiency
could be got rid Of. As read all this
! fared up instantly with indignation.
II appeared TO me an improper thing
for an army officer to do. and was 90,
pecially angry because the communi-
cation had been made public, apparent
ly, before II had been sent to the war
department.
In hot haste went to the presi.
dent. Mr.. President | said to him.
frankly, as | showed him the article,
In my opinion, this Is clear case Of
insubordination, a direct violation of
the rules of military discipline. More-
over. think the seriousness of the
situation is greatly aggravated by the
fact that this communication, which
should never have been written in the
FIRST place, was given to the press be-
fore 1t was sent to the war depart
ment.'
! The president calmly put on his
eyeglasses and read the article very
carefully.
! r'Well. what do you think is best to
DO about itH' he asked very quietly,
when he had finished.
Il saw that he was not disturbed In
the least. apparently, by what had
brought to his notice; but that had no
tendency to cool my indignation.
had been irritated by many things
since the beginning of the war; had
been severely criticised, as you know,
and possibly that made me a little
bit on the raw. So, In answer to the
presidents question, exclaimed.
bluntly:
why, Mr. President, II seems to
me that 1t is case calling clearly for
court martial. am laying It before
you with that object in mind
The president glanced again at tho
article. Then he removed his eye,
glasses from his nose. and fastened his
gaze upon me-
oh. no. he began--and there was
the beginning Of smile on his lips.
and his voice was as gentle and kind
ly as woman's that would not do at
all. think | understand Col. Roose,
velt very well. He undoubtedly was
thinking of his soldlers--of their suf-
ferings-when he wrote as he did, and
was anxious that something should be
done for their health and comfort,
If there was any fault on bis part. It was
the fault Of impulsive kindness. Tech
nically you may be right, but we can
not AFFORD to be too technical. Oh, no.
1t would never do to summon Col.
Roosevelt before a court martial. in
view Of the kindly sympathy he had
for hfs soldiers when he wrote that
communication
"Of course" continued Mr.. Aiger.
there was no appeal from the presi-
dents decision. But went back to
the war department stiIl indignant at
Col Roosevelt; and not Until some
days later did begin to realise that
the president had shown the wisest
kind Of discretion In the matter. In,
deed. when recall all that President
Mckinley had to bear IN those war
days am more than ever impressed
with the wisdom Of his Judgment In
refusing to authorize the court martial
Of Col. Roosevelt
tcopynsht is1e. BY =. J. Edwards An
Rights ksserved.l