The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-13

proceedings. which would place st,g.
ma on and Mrs. yaich
they could never recover from. Ray
could De told that his supe.iors knew
MS fault and nave provided agaia.t
H. and In the interes, of mis- y!ctiuls
and the army. II was deemed hest no.
10 present Il TO board. on the con-
dit!on that he avoid such conduct in
the future
There suggestion are upon the as
sumption mat ------ charges are true,
ana tnat General Darlington knows
them TO be so. don't favor court
martial proceedings In such cases
where there is conformation. IN or4rr
TO Prevent scandal. The army suffers,
the parties suffer. and only the pru-
'rient readers OF such t.ials receive
any advantage. The discipline in
vo!Tcd docs not outweigh IN It's benz
III FOR the army the injuries to Tho
prestige Of the army and the dcmorali-
zation II causes.
You can show this letter 10 Cen
eral darlington and General oliver.
but would prefer that il do not go
on your official nles.
"Ma;or Ray o:d me some service o.
political character Years ago. at the
instance OF my brother and he Is
disposed TO assume r1Ich. TOO much,
on that score. ! wish him treated as
any other officer In the service. and I
would make the same suggestion as TO
any army offlcer IN a similar case
Sincerely yours,
'SigacdJ WILLIAM II. TAFT"
4 year later President Taft sent this
letter TO General Whipple:
The White Housc. Washington, July
II. 1911.
NV Denr General \Vhtpolr.
u write this that you mag show il
TO Mr.. Hay and Mr.. Sweet, OF the Mill
tary Committee. You have come 10 me
at your owr instance with the state
ment that you have learned that Sir.
Sweet is indignant because ne thinks
he has been misquotcd In regard to an
omission of two or three pages OF the
War Department report called for by
II. p. EOS.
Record rs Omitted.
The part OF the record omitted re-
fers 10 charge against Major Beech
er b. Ray. OF Illicit relations with a
certain married woman. in respcc, to
which | was consulted By you at the
time the charge was made. ond also at
the time the resolution vas passed
saw DIR. sweet in New Haven and told
him that deprecated Its being brought
out. as thought it would tend TO
blast the reputation OF married wo-
man. who, as ] understood. was living
happily with her husband, and was NOT
probably what the committee was
<earchiHg for asked him to see NJ.
CovinGton. who had prompted the reso-
luton and find II that part OF the re-
:ord might be omitted.
Il understood from the Secretary of
Var, and also from General Wood.
That Mr.. Sweet had consented to an
omission of that part of the record,
tnlcss. upon Its being brought TO the
attention OF the committee. full re-
.ord was desired. and that III accord :
tncc with that understanding the par
ocular pages OF the record were omit
led from the return until further no.
tice was received from Mr. sweet
Il don't desire aty misunderstanding
And wish that the whole record shall
go TO the committee IL the committee
desires ii and to know what the cir
cu!nstanccs are. ] will ask you there
forc TO take the pages Of the record
20 Mr.. Hay. the chairman ct the
Military Committee, and to Mr.. Sweet.
show them the pages and such cor
respondcncc. confidential o. otherwise,
referred TO III the record
You have also Il letter from me
written JUL last, whcn you consulted
me about this matter which intended
to be confidential and net to be put on
the files. but have no objection TO
your showing that letter 10 Mr. Hay
and to MI. ---. ard if they desire
to bring that out, YOU may make it
II par. Of the record. You Will please
explain to them the circumstances that
according to your understanding with
me and the fact mat Mr.. and Mrs.
- were living together hap
ptly, and the appeals which he has
made TO Won to withdraw his original
letter, in which he made the charge,
and then leave 10 these gentlemen the
decision as to what course he shall
take.
very sincerely,
(Signed) civilian II. TAFT"
Messrs Sweet and Covington, re
fcrred to in the Presidents letter. arc
Representatives in Congress from
Michigan and Maryland respectively.
General Wnipple testified Saturday
that President Taft'' letters had
suppressed" charges against Major
Raw