Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-02-12
Letters of Personal Nature
Written by Mr.. Taft Are
Barred Together With Major
Rays Career in Service.
PRESIDENT SOUGHT TO
PROTECT A WOMAN
In Document He Declared
That Only Harm Could
Come to Military and to
Home Then Believed Happy
fny ErenIna TsraIa a. p. I.easea VIII

tIey EVENING HsFaIe A. r. Leased wireD
Washington. Feb 12.--The alleged
political influence Of Major Beocher
-. Ray, the army paymaster declared
20 have enjoyed frequent changes OF
station and immunity from troubles
because OF the influence Of President
raft again was a subject OF investi-
cation today before the house COM
mittee on expenditures IN the war de-
partmont
paym8stcr General Whipple tesii-
fled that Major Ray had established
record for frequent changes In sta
/ tion. In thirteen years he had been
successfully stationed az eighteen
points. whereas the average assign
mcnt of a paymaster az any station ls
between three and four years. Chair
man Helm asked General Whlpple "
any Of the assignments had been made
at the direction Of President Taft
Yes" he answered. I'm 1909 the
president asked that Major Ray be
sent 20 Atlanta and in November.
1911, that he be sent 10 New York"
at whose request was V that MAJOR
Ray was sent TO Chicago from At
ianta, rather than TO New York ?"
hWA NAMNAN fANAAh AAA NAANA W
staffs office TO make the change 10
Chicago. The chief OF staff said that
Mrs Ray was I'M aud surgical opcr-
alton was "a bo porformed IN chi
caRo. General Garter snid this change
was made at the request OF the White
House.
one OF the lettsrc OF President TAFT
20 Paymaster General Whlppie. Put
In evidence in the case and made pub
Tic today. follows:
Beverly. July 9. 1si0.-(Persoual
and Confidentlal) .--f,ear General
Whipple:
81 have read the letter Of - ---
regarding Paymas'or RAY which YOU
have shown me before. In times past
had had "A personal Interest In tho
welfare of Major Ray. l have no re-
lations with Major Ray that prevent
my directing you To take the same
disciplinary action ln respect TO him
as In the case OF ny OF your subordi-
mates
1T seems TO ne that II would be
wise TO send General Darlington or "A
| trusted assistant TO inspect Rays ac-
counts and those Of his clerk as well
as the charges makes that
II the facts turn out 20 DO az ------ ----
/ states 10 separate ---- ---- from Ray
az once.
While Rays conduct, N ---- ----
charges are true. could subject him
10 the severest condemnation there
seems from -- language H1d
telegram TO bo such a condemnation
/ by him and his wife that Il would
be well 10 avert the dcmOralizing
scandal for the army involved In the
| court-martial proceedings. which
| would place "a stigma on o- --
and Mrs. - -- which they could
never recover from. Ray could be
told that his mpeTiors knew his fault
and have provided against Il. and IN
the interest OF his victims and the
army Il was deemed best not 60 pre-
sent II 20 the boa, on the condition
that he avoid such conduct IN the fu-
ture.
''rhese suggestions are on the as
sumption that --- ----- charges are
truo and that General Darlington
knows them 10 be- so. / DO not favor
court martial proceedings in such
cases whore there Is cor donation, in
order 20 prevent acandaL
The army suffers tho parties suf-
for and only the pruriont readers OF
such trials receive amy advantage Tho
discipline Involved does not outweigh
in its benefit for ihe army the intur-
les 90 the prestige ~ the army and the
orallzation II cause
"You can show this letter TO Cen-
eral Darlington aud General oliver,
but I would prefer thas II does not
so on any OF your official files The
course ] suggest Is the one that CONS
90 me ls best under the circumstance.
"Major Ray die nae some service OF
! a political character years ago. az the
/ Instance of my brother. ana bee is dis
posed to assume "a uch too much. on
that score. wish him treated as any
other officer in the service and l
would make the same suggestion as
90 any army officer IN a similar case.
Sincerely yours
WILLIAM 70. TAFT"
A year later Preside TAFT sent
This letter So General Whipplo
"The White fause. Washington.
Wly ne. t9ii--My Dear General
Whlpple;
"a write this that you mas show it
to Mr. HAY and Mr. sweet of the mile
itary committee. You have come 10
me az your own instance with the
"a.