Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-26
NOW FOR THE FACTS.
War Department Investigators
Will Use the Probe With.
out Fear or Favor.
PRESIDENT CALLS FOR THE TRUTH.

Tells Them He Desires That the Guilty, If
Any, Shall Be Discovered, sparing No
body-Retraction by n Chief Surgeon of
Charges He Made-Gen. Alger Visits
Camp Cuba Libre-Gen. Garcia Declares
That the Cuban Government Doesn't
Count.
Washington. Sept. 26.-Eight of the
Eine members of the presidents war
commission called at the White House
Saturday mornging and sfterward or
sanized for business. They begin busi-
ness today. Following are the members
OF the commission: General Grenville
NJ. Dodge, of Council Bluffs, Ia; COL
James A Sexton. of Chicago; Alexander
Mcdowell M'Cook. of Ohio; General
John NJ Wilson, U. S. A. chief of en-
gineers; Captain Evan P. Howell. Of
the Atlanta Constitution; James A
Beaver, former governor of Pennsyl-
vania; Urban A. Woodbury.. former
governor OF Vermont: Charles DENLY,
of Indiana, for thirteen years United
States minister to China: DR.. Phineas
s. Connor. a Cincinnati physician of
high standing.
President Is Thoroughly Satisfied.
The commission effected an organiza-
ton by electing General Grenville NJ
Dodge, president: Richard Weightman,
secretary, and Major Stephen c. Mills,
of the regular army, recorder. The pres
lent is understood to be thoroughly
pleased with the personnel of the COM
mission. 1t was his effort to secure
as members OF the commission men of
the highest character and standing, in
whose opinions and judgment the coun-
try would have all confidence. He de-
sired also to have represented on the
board all phases of public and political
feeling. every section of the country,
and all classes of business-profession
al. commercial ard military. The men
whom he has appointed are possessed
of wide and varied experience, many of
them h;Iving served with distinguished
honor to themselves either in the Union
or Confederate armies. The president
feels assured that the verdict of the
commission, whatver it may be, will be
accepted and approved by all right
minded and right-thinking American
citizers.
Wants n Searching Investigation.
In addressing the commission when
1t assembled for a conference at the
White House Saturday the president
said In part: There has been in many
quarters severe criticism of the con-
duct of the war with Spain. Charges of
nSBleCI OF Ine SOIQleTS IN camp
and field and hospital, and in trans
pcrts. have been so persistent that
whether true or false they have made 4
deep impression upon the country. 1t
IS my earnest desire that you shall
thoroughly investigate these charges.
and make the fullest examination of
the administration of the war depart
inert in all of its branches. with the
view to establishing the truth or falsity
of there accusations. L put upon you no
limit to the scope of your investigation.
OF all departme nts connected with the
army I invite the closest scrutiny and
examination. and shall afford every
facility for the most searching inquiry.
The records of the war department and
the assistance of its officers shall be
subject to your call
Wrong-Doers Must Not Escape.
ct cannot impress upon you too
strongly my wish that your investiga-
tion shall be SO thorough and COM
plete; that your report when made will
fix the responsibility for any failure
or fault by reason of neglect incom-
potency or maladministration upon the
officers and bureaus responsible there
for--if it be found that the evils COM
planned OF have existed. The people of
the country are entitled to know
whether or not the citizens who so
promptly responded to the call of duty
have been neglected, or misused, or
maltreated by the government to
which thew vviIIip0Iv eava thar