Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-09-14
Nailed Down the Lie.

The yellow journals-and this state
has a few as jaundiced as any that
can be found-have for weeks been
picturing the horrors of Camp Wi
koff, at Montauk Point. In the first
place it was u bad selection, accord
ing to these sensational liars, but
worst OF all, the management was
eXecrable and soldiers were dying for
want of food and proper care. But
such statements are being daily dis
proven by those who have more at
stake than the irresponsible hirelings
of a hostile press. James l.. High of
Chicago. who has a son sick i'm that
camp, reading about the ''deplorable
conditions there and having the
welfare of his son at heart, resolved
to visit the camp to see for himself.
He hurried East to rescue his Sol
from the ''pest hole" and here is
what he says about the camp:
"All the wards are sweet and clean
and entirely free from foul odors.
The cots are supplied with plenty of
clean linen, and there seemed to be
plenty of nurses in attendance. L
found an abundance of the very best
of good eatables. 1 saw the cooking
i'm the hospital kitchens. which are as
clean as those of first-class hotels.
There We're eggs, butter, milk, ~jellies,
oranges, lemons, fresh fruits of all
kinds, and all the delicacies one can
conceive in plenty to tempt a sick or
a we'll man. The hospital stores had
a sutficiency uf ice, and 1 noticed that
the meals for patients were being
served with spring chicken and tur-
key. No offensive odors emanated
from n sinks, and plenty of disin-
fecting material was being used. The
detention hospitals are properly po-
Iced, and all of the offaI and garbage
are being consumed daily by fire.
There were cases of champagne and
wines i'm abundance, all of which
were served literally to the sick SOL
dierS under medical supervision"
Mr.. High further says that all the
soldiers told him everything which
could possibly be done had been done
for their comfort.
Daniel NJ. Lord, of the w~ell-known
drug house OF Lord Il Thomas ofChi-
cago, is another who has visited Mon
tauk Point and corroborates Mr..
High. He says 'the location of Camp
Wikoff is ideal, the management is
excellent and every provision possible
has been made for the care Of the sol
diers. both sick and we'll"
The stories Of mismanagement, neg
lect and general incapacity published
by the yellow newspapers Mr.. Lord
characterizes as 1.-THE grossest calum-
MES and canards-falsehoods made
out of whole cloth"
1t is Mr.. Lords belief that the gov
eminent could not have selected a
spot more favorable for the speedy
recovery of the sick soldiers. 1.-THE
government has done wonders in
making it habitable," says Mr.. Lord.
The high hills bet the ocean and
sound, with fresh, cooling breeZes
sweeping over the camp, render it de-
lightful from a climatic point of view.
Fresh milk every morning, fruit, veg
etables, medical supplies and deli
cacies for the sick are supplied in
bountiful abundance. while the equip
ment of the hospitals is adequate i'm
every particular.
Speaking OF Mr.. Lords testimony
i'm regard to camp Wikoff, the Times
Herald says: 1T has as much weight
in Chicago as that of Senator Proc
tor concerning the condition of the
Cuban reconcentrados had i'm the
United States senate. Mr.. Lord is a
man of business affairs, accustomed
to dealing with cold facts. He il not
a politician. He is an enterprising,
public-spirited Chicago citizen"
Thus is an INSCRIPTIONS press be
ing rebuked by men of affairs and in
tegrity, who are not striving to make
for a party that is AS barren
of honesty and principle as it is Of
issues with which to go before the
people.