Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-09-24
A RIGID INVESTIGATION
To be Made of the Conduct of the
Wharf.-The Peace Commission.
Other Notes.

/
their way to Paris, President McKin-
ley will complete the Commission to
investigate the conduct OF the war aud
will get it to work at the earliest
possible moment He thinks the
Commission can do all its work in
Washington, calling such witnesses
as were in positions which enabled
them to possess useful information;
and he told one of the Commissioners
that every communication sent or re.
ceived by the War Department would
be made accessible to the Commission,
and that the whole power of the gov.
eminent would be used to assist the
Commissioners in getting at every
thing they desired to know. The only
desire that President Mckinley has
in the matter is to show the people Of
the country just how the war was
conducted, aud to at the same time
discover the things in our present
system that should be changed in or
der to get the best results. He wishes
nobody to be shielded and nobody to
be prosecuted.
The gentlemen who have consented
to serve on the Commission, are so
we'll known that no one would ques-
tion their report when it is made
The words of such men as these al
ways carries conviction to the public:
President Gilman, of John Hopkins
University; Hon. Charles DENLY, for
more than thirteen years u. S. Minis
ter to China Col. James A. Sexton,
the newly.elected COMMANDMENT.
Chief of the G. A. r.; Gen. Granville
M. Dodge, who gained military fame
in the Civil war; DIR. w. w. Keen,
whose achievements have placed him
in the front rank Of the medical pro.
fession, not only Of the u S., but of
the world, and Capt. Evan p Howell.
formerly editor Of the Atlanta Consti-
tuition. The lack of legal authority
to compel witnesses to testify. is not
regarded as serious drawback to
the Commission. Few witnesses call
ed are likely to decline to testify,
when they know that the President
wishes them to tell everything they
know.
The sessions of the Peace Commits
sion, to meet at Paris, Oct. /, are to
be held in the famous "Salle des Am
bassadeurs," the French Government
having rendered the use of that apart
ment, in which have been enacted
numerous international diplomatic
dramas, when the meeting place of
the Peace Commission was first an
nounced. Just previous to the de-
parture of the American Commits
sioners from Washington, Hon. VIM.
R. Day, who heads the Commission
rendered his resignation as Secretary
of State, which was accepted by the
President, who then officially an
nounced the appointment Of Col. John
Hay, recently Ambassador to Great
Britain, to be Secretary of State. At
the same time Hon. John Bassett
Moore, who accompanies the Com
missioners as adviser, rendered his
resignation as First Assistant Secre-
tary of State, and it was accepted.
SECRETARY Hay, who will be in Wash
iugton in few days will choose Mr..
Moore's successor. The instructions
given our representatives on the Peace
Commission have been a well-kept
secret. Surmises have been plentiful,
but there are no facts before the pub
lie. President Mckinley says the
policy of this government in the ne
gotiations of the treaty of peace wit h
Spain will be recognized as thoroughly
American when it becomes known,
and that he does not deem it prudent
to say what it Is at this time.
The sensation mongers hardly got
chance to spread their imagination
on the stories of such serious situa-
ton at Manila that more American
troops are needed, before the sensa-
ton was punctured by an official re.
port from Gen. Otis, who is in com
mand of our troops over there during
the absence of Gen. Merritt, who is
on his way to Paris to place the infor-
nation in his possession before the
American Peace Commissioners, say
ing that no more troops were needed,