Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-13
TAFT SOUGHT TO AVERT
SCANDAL IN THE ARMY.
courtmartial Would Have Jeopardized
Happiness of Married Couple.


Washington, Fob. 12.-The alleged
political influence Of Major Beecher B.
Ray. the army paymaster, who is de-
clared to have enjoyed frequent
changes Of station, and immunity from
verious troubles because Of the infu-
ence Of President Taft, was again
subject of investigation today before
the house committee on expenditures
in the war department.
Paymaster Whipple's Testimony
Paymaster General Whipple testified
that Major Ray had established a rec
ord in the service for frequent changes
in station. In 13 years he had been
successfully stationed at 1S points;
whereas the average assignment of
paymaster at any station is between
three and four years.
Changes Directed by Taft.
Chairman Helm asked General Whip
pie if any of the assignments had been
made at the direction of President
Taft
Yes he answered, Gin 1909 the pres
ident asked that Major Ray be sent to
Atlanta, and in November, 1911, that
he be sent to New York"
Request of White House.
AT whose request was it that Ma
jor Ray was sent to Chicago from At
lanta, rather than to New York ?"
Il got orders from the chief of staff's
office to make the change to Chicago.
The chief Of staff said that Mrs. Ray
was i'll and surgical operation was
to be performed in Chicago. General
Carter said this change was made at
the request Of the White House"
Tafts Letter to Whippls.
One Of the letters of President Taft
10 Paymaster General WhippIe, put in
evidence in the case and made public
today, follows:
Beverly, July 5, 1910.
personal and confidenhal)
Dear General Whipple: have read
the letter Of O regarding Pay
master Ray, which you have shown ms
because in times past L had had a
personal interest in the welfare of Ma
ior Ray. 1 have no relations with Ma
ior Ray that prevent my directing you
TO take the same disciplinary action in
respect to him as in the case Of any
Of your subordinates.
Separate from Ray at Once.
ut seems to me that it would be
wise to send General Darlington or a
trusted assistant to inspect Rays ac-
counts and those of his clerk. as we'll,
as the charges O makes, and it
the facts turn out to be as O
states, TO separate o from Ray
( at once.
Avoid Scandal in the Army.
While Rays conduct if O
charges are true, could subject him to
the severest condemnation, there seems
from CD language and telegram
to be such condemnation by him and
his wife that it would be well to avoid
the demoralizing scandal for the army
involved in the courtmartial proceed
I ings, which would place a stigma on
(-l and Mrs. () which
they could never recover from. Ray
could be told that his superiors knew
his fault, and have provided against it.
and in the interest of his victims and
the army and it was deemed best not
to present it to a board on the condi-
ton that he avoid such conduct in the
future.
Army Suffers by Scandal.
These suggestions are made upon
the assumption that (--) charges
are true and that General Darlington
knows them to be so. l do not favor
| courtmartial proceedings in such cases
! where there is conformation, in order to
prevent scandal. The army suffers, the
parties suffer, and only the prurient
readers Of such trials receive any ad-
| vantage. The discipline involved does
not outweigh in its benefit for the
army the injuries to the prestige of
! the army and the decentralization it
| causes.
Treat Ray as Any Other Officer.
You can show this letter to Gen
eral Darlington and General Oliver, but
/ l would prefer that it do not go on
| your official files The course l sug-
! gest is the one it seems to me is best
under the circumstances.
/ Major Ray did me some service of
| political character years ago, at the
! instance of my brother, and he is dis
! posed to assume much too much, on
I that score. I wish him treated as any
| other officer in the service, and I
would make the same suggestion as to
any army officer in a similar case.
Sincerely yours,
| WILLIAM II. TAFT
A Later Letter from Taft.
A year later President Taft sent this
! letter to General Whipple:
THE White House,
! Washington, July IA, 1911.
| My Dear General Whipple: l write
this that you may show it to Mr.. Hay
| and Mr.. Sweet of the military commit
! tee. You have come to me at your
own instance with the statement that
I you have learned that Mr. Sweet is in
/ dignant because he thinks he has been
/ nlisqu0ted in regard to an omission of
/ two or three pages Of the war de-
partment called for by ii. K. 20S
Might Blast Reputation of Woman.
Part of the record omitted refers
NO q charge against Major Beecher B.
Ray Of illicit relations with a certain
married woman. in respect to which I
was consulted by you at the time the