Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-12
Thinks Bell Retained Paper.

The general had just recited his part in
the discovery of the missing records in
the Ray case from the adjutant generals s
office.
He had stated it as his belief that for
mer Chief of Staff J. Franklin Bell had
retained the Ray papers from the ad-
jutant generals Office and transmitted to
him. Edwards. when he left the War
Department, because he thought that the
adJutant generals Office was ''hostile to
the President of the United States
He said he believed the Office would
use the papers against the President OF
the United States" At the conclusion of
Chairman Harvey Helm of Kentucky.
He said:
Mr.. Helm, am willing to answer any
questions and speak frankly with you
are some questions l would like to ask
you outside of this hearing. Just as man
| to man / would like to know who 1t is
| that is instisating these questions and
these attacks on officers words and Of
ticerS' motives"
Chairman Helm did not reply Instead,
he took Gen. Edwards correspondence
with Maj. Ray and said the committee
would read it over and determine whether
any proprieties would be violated if 1t
was put in the record. This correspond
ence was not read because Gen. Edwards
explained that it was of a private nature
and gave Maj. Rays reasons for wanting
to go to Chicago so that his wife could
get the treatment of surgeon.
Clerk Finds Paper.
Gen. Edwards produced a duplicate re-
ceipt signed by him April 20, 1910, for
papers in the Ray case turned over by
Gen. Bell He said that his clerk, Mr..
Brock, whose initials he could not re-
call. but who has been his secretary for
five years. reported the finding of bun
die OF Ray papers in cupboard In his
office February II. This was Saturday.
He got the papers at his home Sunday,
and called up Secretary of War Stimson,
who ordered him to turn them over to
Judge Advocate General Crowder. Gen.
Crowder, he said, culled out the papers
| and forwarded the public papers to Con-
res, and ne assumed sent the private
| messages to Gen. Bell in Manila.
Inese papers are. those which explain
| the charge that Maj. Beecher B. Ray,
paymaster United States Army. was @ &C.
| tive politically for President Taft In 1905
and later presumed on this activity to be
| relieved from disciplinary action for al
legged indiscretions and offenses.
Gen. Edwards explained that he had
| first met Maj. Ray in Manila in 1907.
when he had accompanied Secretary OF
War Taft there to open the Philippine
| assembly
He said that Gov Gen. James Smith
| Vice Gov. Newton w. Gilbert, Col. p. H
Bandholtz, Martin Egan and others de
scribed Ray as being a valuable man t
| send to Chicago to interpret Secretary o.
| War Taft's opinions as Judge in labor
disputes. He said that these friends o.
Mr.. Taft thought that the labor vote wa!
| against him. They recommended Maj
Ray, a former official of the railway con
ductors' union, to help in the campaign
Gen. Edwards said he cabled to Col. Nc
| Intyre in Washington to have Ray re
| turned to the United States.
| He said the reply from Col. Mcintyre
| and Paymaster General Sniffen was such
that ''he dropped Ray" He said Ray had
| been appointed in the army through the
influence of Mark Hanna and former Vice
| President Fairbanks. He also said that
the officers of the army did not like him
| and that Ray complained he was not get
ting a square deal. Gen. Edwards said
trat he formed a dislike for Ray. His
manners We're objectionable.
Told Taft on Way Home.
ST never dined with him or near him,
said the general "Of course, out there
at that time it was a liver campaign. L
always is when you are out there will
royalty. His interview with Maj. Ra,
was at the Malacanan palace
Il was trying to do something for the
friend. We all were. We did not wan
him to know We were doing 1t. but wher
] got McIntyre's. message I dropped tn,