The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-28
Washington Letter.


affair? That is the question asked
on every side since it was announced
that MIR McKinley's commission
would, uutil further notice. conduct
the investigation behind the locked
doors of room in the war depart.
mept. Secrect Investigations have
never been popular with the Ameri.
can people This was recognized by
those who stated that these doors
would be closed "until further no.
tice." 1t is expected that public
opinion will demand that those doors
be thrown open, and the testimony
in this Investigation be publicly
taken, and that expectation will al.
most certainly be realized. Let the
commission make its consideration OF
the testimony as secret as its mem
bers may desire, but let the testl
mony be taken in dublic Otherwise,
the public will put the whole affair
down as farcical. 1t may be only
a coincidence, but it is a significant
one that the chairman of Mr. Nc
Kinley's commission is named Dodge
Gen. G. M. Dodge. of Iowa The
other members, secured after much
trouble and many absolute refusaIs to
serve, are, Col. J. A. Sexton, of llli-
nois; Caps. E. P. Howell, of Geor-
gia Mai. Gen. J. NJ Wilson, o s:
A Hon. G. A. DENLY, of Indiana
Ex.Gov> Woodbury., of Vermont
Ex.Gov. Beaver, Of Pennsylvania ;
Gen A. C. McCook, of New York,
and Dr.. P s Conner, of Ohio
Giving officers honorable dis
charges, who have been openly &C.
cused by generals in the army of in
competency and mismanagement, is
no. a good way to convince the
country that the war department
either wishes to find the guilty or in-
tends to punish them when found
a case in point is that of Lieut.. Col.
Rush 81. Huidekoper, the horse doc.
tor who was chief surgeon at Camp
Thomas, Chickamauga Park, and
against whom many charges we're
made, including one from brigadier
general, made directly to Secretary
Alger Instead of having Huideko.
per court n.artialed, 80 that he could
have been either vindicated or con-
victed, orders were Issued that his
resignation should be accepted and
he be given an honorable discharge.
Mr.. Mckinley heard Of that order
and couutermanded it, and directed
that Huidekoper be ordered to Wash
ington to testify before the investi-
eating commission. NJ. Mckinley
is finding out much more about
things than ne knew before the talk
about investigation began and it is
believed that he Intends making it
hot for some of the guilty parties.
In fact, his personal friends are tell
ing him that be must do so for SELF
preservation.
Representative Cochran. of Mo,
who is in Washington trying TO con
vince the administration to Older
more Missouri volupt musteredeers
ou, of service, said of the republi-
cans asking endorsement OF their con-
duct of the war: 1.-The republicans
will be fortunate. indeed. if they can
divert public attention from the bond
issue, the neglect and mIsmanage
ment which has characterized the
conduct of the authorities in actual
charge of the prosecution OF the
war How they can expect to gain
any advantage by raising war issues,
j, is difficult to understand The
troops in the field are composed of
men of ali parties They did their
duty nobly, and have added to the
glory add reputation Of American
arms, by deeds Of unparalleled hero
ism SO much for the soldiers in the
field Now, if the authorities at
Washington can afford to go to the
country for appreciation Of an admin
istration, which failed to provide our
brave soldiers with ratlons, tents,
medicine and competent surgeons
and attendants, during the struggle,
and hinged the result Of the fall cleo.
ZION upon this issue, the democrats
can afford to meet it. think. how
ever, that the war will cut very little
figure Parties will divide on old
lines, and the issues Vi 1896 will be
fought over again
Much interest is felt in Washing
ton in that affidavit made by Teddy"
Roosevelt. that he was not resident
Of New York, but Of Washington.
1t ia not believed that the making
public of this affidavit by the friends
of Governor Black, will prevent
Teddy" getting the republican nom
ination for governor OF New York,