The Washington times., 1912-04-10
CONSPIRACY BLAMED
BYHOUSE COMMIT TEE
IN A|NSWORTH CASE
Major General Held Entirely
Blameless by Board on
Military Affairs.

Holding Maj. Gen. Frederick C. Aims
worth blameless of all the charges
against him by his superiors and de-
claring his relief from duty in February
last was undeserved and was virtually
the result of conspiracy to get him
out of the service, the House COMMITTEES
on Military Affairs has filed report
with the House on the Stimson- w ood-
Ainsworth controversy.
Inc report Is caustic in its criticism
or secretary of War Stimson, and even
or the President When General Aims
worth was relieved from duty on Feb
ruary IA, on the ground of ''insubor-
dination, Ill temper" and other alleped
1ailings. the report says there was no
tribunal to which he could appeal for
fair play.
The report, which was filed by Chair
man Hay, embodies the lengthy cor
respondence between Secretary Stimson.
General Ainsworth, and General Wood.
Chief of Staff. 1t harshly condemns the
nationwide publicity which Secretary
Stimson gave to his letter of February
"a to General Ainsworth, in which the
secretary outlined the alleged failinss
of the Adjutant General
IF In the history of this country there
was ever more fragrant abuse of Of
ncial authority than that which was
consummated when the letter In ques-
tion was served on General Ainsworth
ana copies OF II given simultaneously to
the world, this committee has never
heard of II, says the Hay report. "And
tne worst feature of 1t was that this
olncer OF long, and distinguished serv-
appeal with any hope Of receiving JUS
tice or fair treatment"
Inc report asserts the letter OF the
SsesGretary ssnSnaryy of War reprimanding General
AlhsWorth was more intemperate in
language than any letters of General
AlnsWorth himself
Tle Hay report denies that the support
OF the hay army reorganization plan
oy General Ainsworth influenced to any
extent the exoneration which the House
committee seeks to give him, but II is
strongly intimated a conspiracy in the
war Department was engendered
against S the adjutant, general because
reorganization plan when summoned to
testify before the House committee
General Ainsworth approved the five-
year Yea rs enlistment period in the bill. and
strangely relieved from duty on the
oay before the vote on the bill was
taken. On that day, says the report, a
copy OF the Stimson letter relieving
the adjutant general was rushed to the
House. where 1t was read during the
debate on the army bill.
IN It's report the committee grows sar-
castle over the statement made by Sec
retary Stimson in transmitting the
Afnsworth correspondence to the House
that the transmittal Is not to be con-
srued as recognition Of the authority
or Jurisdiction of the House or any of
ltf committees to require Of the Chief
Executive (the Chief of
the Army statement of the reasons
OF MS official actions in such matters. Z"
The report says a careful perusai of
the Constitution has failed Ito disclose
where the Commander-in-Chief Of the
Army has the right to withhold from
Congress information of a public ma
ture regarding hiss acts. Certainly, in
times of peace, the report says, Con-
gress has a right to ask such informa-
ton of the President. In the event the
President holds such ideas, continues
the report, he and not the Secretary of
war should have told the House.