Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-16
DEMANDS PROBE
lcontinued from Page One)

n resolution of inquiry. other sena-
tors. however, including Senator
Glass, Democrat, Virginia. within
whose state the Eightieth Division
was trained. made known their in
tention to block confirmation Of
General Cronkhite's successor. Brig
adler General Hanson +. Ely. of the
Army Service School, at Fort Leav-
enwOrth, Kansas until the facts can
be established.
In correspondence with the War
Department published in the PAM
phlet, General Cronkhite attributed
his retirement to his activity in
seeking to bring to justice those he
held responsible for the death of his
son, Major Alexander p. Cronkhite,
who was mysteriously shot and kill
ed in 1913 at Camp Lewis, Wash
ington. In one instance. he was
quoted as declaring that the attor-
ney general had dropped the case
at the request of Secretary Hoover,
Senator. Calder, Republican, New
York. and others, a statement which
resulted today in denials from both
Mr.. Hoover and Mr.. Calder.
His only action in the case, Sec
rotary Hoover said. had been to
write note to the attorney general
saying he hoped that Captain Rosen-
bluth. one of the men indicted in
connection with the killing. could
be given an early trial. This note
was written. he Said, at the request
of Captain Rosenbluth. with whom
he had come in contact while he
was engaged in relief work in 1919.
Senator Calder likewise declared he
mad sought only to expedite the trial
of the accused men. Because one OF
/ them was constituent of his he add
cd, nc had been SO insistent that any
one examining his correspondence on
the subject could see he had been "al-
most insulted" by the department Of
justice because of the attitude he took.
Colonel Wise's formal request for
congressional inquiry was addressed to
Senator Reed. he explained, because
/ the headquarters OF the Svth Division
Association is located in Pittsburg.
the senator's home town. He explained
In his letter that tho:c who prepared
the pamphlet dealing with the sc had
no desire to conceal their identity. al
though they did not regard it as ma
tcrial to the inquiry. and continued:
Our purpose all along has simply
been. upon statement of the case as
known to us, to have. if possible. a res
olution introduced in the Senate call
ing upon the military affairs commit
! tee to report to the Senate the facts
of General Cronkhite's retirement, and
such resolution We sincerely trust
your Judgment will permit yoY to in
/ troduce.
| 1T has never been our idea that this
action would be in the nature of an at
tack upon the president or the secreta-
ry or war. for whom we have the high
| est rpSDGct and in Nrh
, utmost confidence. We do not believe
that they have knowingly been party
to any wrong to General Crcnkhite and
| we believe that they would be the first
to correct any injustice which the facts
! may show has been done him.
What We do not understand Is the
failure Of the war department to take
any action looking to the determina-
| ton OF the facts in the case of Major
Cronkhitc even after the accused MUIR
dercr confessed and after a grand Jury
had brought in an indictment against
| persons alleged to have murdered an
! officer of the army while on duty Does
the war department owe no obligation
to the army and to it's officers in such
a case?
! During the investigation Of the de-
partmcnt of justice leading to the in
dictment. General Cronkhite remained
| IN THIS country upon the express au-
th""'ty of his superiors. cooperating
with the department. Yet General
Cronkhite's retirement is in fact based
upon the ground that his services were
no longer available to the army. It is
| our idea that he was performing a
very great service to the army as we'll
as to the country at large.
| The men who served under General
Cronkhite made no charges against
! anyone. but they wish to be quite sure
that full justice is done General
Cronkhite and thereby repay him. to
the extent that it is in their power, the
great debt which they owe him."