Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1908 — CONTROVERSY ENDED [ARTICLE]

CONTROVERSY ENDED

So Far as the President It Concerned, as to Command of Hospital Ships. MEDICAL MEN ABE SUSTAINED All Such Vessel* To Be Controlled by Officers of the Staff Some Very Sharp Comment on Admiral Brownaon's Resignation and on Line Officer* aa Commanders.

Washington, Jan. 6. President Roosevelt’s attitude on the question of the command of hospital ships In the navy, which resulted In the resignation of Rear Admiral Brownson, and Incidentally some caustic observations ou that Incident and the controversies among the naval officers and their adherents as to details of naval construction and methods of training were made known when Secretary Metcalf gave to the press two letters from the president addressed to him on these subjects. Doe* Not Mince His Words.

In the first of these letters President Roosevelt, without mincing words, con demns In unmeasured terms the act of Admiral Brownson. declaring It to be unseemly and improper. The question as to which Admiral Brownson took Issue with the navy department the president declares Is one as to which there can he entirely legitimate dlf ferenees of opinion, but he adds “there Is no room for difference of opinion as to tbe gross impropriety of the ad nilral’s conduct in resigning sooner than carry out the orders of his su perlor officers In such a matter. The officers of the navy must remember that it is not merely childish, but in the highest degree reprehensible, to permit either personal pique, woundeJ vanity, or factional feeling on behalf of some particular bureau or organization. to render them disloyal to the interests of the navy and therefore of the country as a whole.” Ananias Society Prospers.

Regarding the controversies in the navy the president admits there always are and always will be defects to correct. It is well, he says, that these defects he pointed out, but it is also well that they should be pointed ont without “hysterical exaggeration or malicious untruthfulness.” He scathingly rebukes those guilty of exploiting them in grossly exaggerated form in the fancied interest of an individual or clique of individuals or for the sake of supplying sensational material matter to newspapers. AH this in the irat letter.