New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-18
DEMOCRATS AFTER RAY
.,.kino to Make Campaign Ma
: ss out of Army Majors Case.
ATTACK AIMED AT PRESIDENT
.s,sr Accused Of Receiving I'm
~ ...rsI Favors as Pay for His
:, Political Services
.-... TIE rr,hnne Bureau


,,...on Tune l7-Great mystery has
.',.s,d the adoption by the House OF
E'sn-.,.s+ives Of a resolution calling on
Mp T.- department FOR copies Of all pa
ne -,I,,ire 10 an oficer-"or officers
pr 20 whom II is alleged special
has been shown in granting I'M
HV ,o,r leaves Of absence, and 70
us4N- ,ro,srtion has been given against
NnVI court martial for offendes described
.r,r,insl. This is the purport of the
.,r,ion which has been carefully drawn
rbich was approved by the House
10y Committee az A session Of which
-, one Republican member knew
-, until he heard the result on the
- the House. when the subject was
800 Al efforts on the part Of the
A,,ca, members 20 obtain some def
,rsorration as 70 the object Of the
N,,,,,o, were frustrated by its advocates,
,..,,.s the fact that II is possible the War
.r.,,r,ent will be obliged 70 dlvulse in
D-.,,on regarding several officers. In or
- give the Democratic House the facts
',,,h, nv the resolution. In the War De-
..-,-ant to-day the clerks Of one OF the
sr,s,us we're AZ work on the reply 70 the
resolution
Tho case which II is evidently intended
..o.,b & that Of Major Beecher 3. Ray,
:, he pay department Of the army. now
= sutv A. Atlanta. bur formerly on duty
;. cbicsEo That officer has incurred the
a.,rss u some Of his associates for the
...,r5,v he manifested in several Presi-
,.,,ial campaigns Before his appointment
:. N. nav department OF the army. Ma
a., psy was connected with the railway
-.,'s examination. and was a valuable
r,-.sr IN the Middle West IN the Repub-
nan party n. naturally retained his in
..-.s- IN politics after his appointment 20
.,s rn,litarv service. He asked for and
os.sinsd leave % absence on several oc-
,,sions. his presence having been asked by
,,r.v managers There has never been
an r-etsnce that he was engaged on Of
A~sI business or received any undue favor
b, --e Tsv Of 1ay. as compared with other
~ ,ers on similar leave Of absence for
t..ir own benefit. His absences were ap-
moved BY hts senior officers
On one occasion 10 was reported for al
legged irregularites in his transactions. the
amount involved being Insignificant. and
re officer asserted that the incident was
ere Of carelessness. The recommendation
,c- his trial by court marital was disap-
rroved rs General J. r. Bel. chief Of
s,sr and the proceedings were dropped
with severe reprmand administered by
General Duvan. then commanding the
Philippine Division. 20 which Major Ray
was attached. TIE War Department evil
ts,dy considered tie case Of no great
s-porance. since Major Ray has sub
seqlen,ly been detailed TO important and
responsible duties az san Francisco, Homo
lGlu and his present station.
The object of the resolution IS to make
Il appear that the President was re-
sponsble for the alleCed special favors
extended 70 Major Ray and that the late
ter was protected from the consequences
Of his alleged Irregularities because OF mis-
political services. As a matter Of fact Mr..
Taft mas no interest in the officer. knew
nothing Of the charges against him until
recently and interposed in his behalf 10
no greater extent than In the cases OF
-o.1sr army officers requiring Presidential
ssion. The papers which viii come from
me War Department in answer 20 the
House resolution may be interesting, may
even be susceptible # being perverted into
campaign material but they will fail 10
reflect. as is evidently hoped by the Demo-
crs;s upon the President.