Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-17
LETTERS SCORE RAY
Called 'PoIiticaIIy Unreliable"
and ian Unbounded Bluff"
REFER TO HIS TRANSFER
House Committee On Expenditures
in War Department Makes Pub
lie Official Communications.

Maj. Beecher B. Ray Of the pay corps
OF the army. whose political influence it
Is alleged, saved him from CONTINENTAL
on several occasions, is described as ''po-
ttically unreliable and IAN astoniSh ng
example Of unbounded blum and limitless
gall. in additional confidential army cor
respondence. made public by the House
committee on expenditures in the War
Department, Of which Representative
Harvey Helm Of Kentucky is chairman.
It seems that In November, 1907, a year
before the national campaign in which
Maj. Ray is alleged to have taken so
active g part at the behest of President
Taft's brother, Brig. Gen. Clarence r.
Edwards, chief Of the bureau of insular
affairs, who was then in the Philip ines
where Ray also was stationed, cabled to
the assistant chief Of the bureau as fol-
lows:
Wanted Ray Transferred.
Manila.
Mcintyre, Washington:
go to J. Franklin Bell, Culver c.
Sninn and Charles H. Whipple. Conf
dentially dx 1t up with them SO that
Beecher b. Ray can be ordered at once,
without exciting comment, to Chicago
station. EDWARDS"
This was the reply ::Novemeer =. 1907.
ITO Edwards, Manila:
Culver c. Sniffin strongly opposed to
returning Beecher 3. Ray to United
States; says Beecher B. Ray is politically
unreliable and brought influence Of Gull
lom. Hemenway. to prevent his going to
the Philippines; evidently appealed to
them as friends of Cannon and Fairbanks
influence. .:MINTYRE."
In letter written by Brig. Gen. c. c..
Sniffin, retired, on November 5, 1907, to
Mai. Gen. John F. Weston. U. S. A., at
Manila, in opposition to the transfer OF
Maj. Ray, this statement is made:
II assure you that he is the most as
tonishing example Of unbounded bluff and
limitless gall that have ever met in my
life, except Maj. Joseph Wham. late Of
the pay department and now on the re-
tired list, and Ray and Wham are CO.
equals in every respect"
Ordered Here, Anyhow.
Despite the opposition expressed. NAL
Ray was ordered to the United States. A
year or so ago, when Maj Ray was sta
toned in Atlanta, he desired to be trans
ferred to Chicago. but apparently there
was opposition from his superiors.
Under date of January Is, 1911. the fol-
lowing SET Oh IeSOlullOuS was IeCclNeu hI
the White House by President Taft:
"Conductors' Council, Order Railway
Conductors. Room 1913, New York Life
building, Chicago, Ill.
ITO the Hon. William H. Taft Presi-
dent Of the United States:
BE 1t resolved, That Division No 293,
Order Railway Conductors, most urgently
request that Maj. B. B. Ray, chief pay
United States Army, be assigned
to duty in Chicago as chief paymaster
United States Army.
"The railway men Of Chicago and the
west have insisted on the return to this
city of Brother Ray, who has been an
active member of our order and has
legions Of friends. We feel that his being
stationed In our city would be of benefit
along many lines to his friends and his
party.
Needed Rays Advice.
1--WE make this request on account of
the health Of Mrs. Ray, SO that she may
be close to her friends and relatives and
DR.. Menge Of Chicago. who knows her
case, and, We believe, would be better
able to handle it than any other physi-
clan. and also on account Of Brother
Rays strong personality among our
and his advice in questions
which will come I'D in the near future.
' GEoRGE s. LANE.
"'Chief Conductor.
JOHN A. LEWIS,
observation-disclosures.
Although the paymaster general dis
Of the transfer. in letter dat
ed January 10. 1911. Maj. Rays station
was changed, as he desired.