Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-08
The ROOSEVELT Letter.

Although it has been nearly two
weeks since it was issued exclusive
readers of the Intelligencer have not
vet seen Mr.. Robert B. Roosevelt's red
hot roast Of the "Whitewash Board.
Mr.. Roosevelt is a near relative OF the
ex-Rough Rider, now Governor OF New
York, is secretary of the Committee
for the Protection of Soldiers and is
thoroughly conversant with the entire
situation His letter was one OF the
most important documents in connec-
ton with the war investigation sent
out by the Associated Press, yet the
Intelligencer for an apparent partisan
purpose deliberately suppressed that
document, and although our neighbor
has frequently mentioned 1t In It's
malicious charge that the Register for
partisan effect" changed the name OF
the writer to Governor Roosevelt it has
not yet told it's readers what was in
that letter.
We regret we have not space to re-
produce the entire letter from Mr..
Roosevelt, but the following brief ex-
tracts will give an idea of its scathing
nature:
The men who are guilty of the i'll treat
ment of our soldiers will be eXecrated IN
this community = = Nor will it do to
take refuge behind the errors of the civil
war. There was no Intentional cruelty
such as seems so often to have prevalled
in, hic ha
The sick were treated with all possible at
tention and kindness; water was not SOLD
to fever racked sufferers at ten cents a
glass; food was not sold to starving men
at twenty-five cents sandwich and dam
ties for the dying men were not eaten
by the officers
and-fold worse in the civil war would
that be any reason now that our men
should be sent with arms out of date;
that there should be no ambulances, no
pack trains or transportation to carry
food to the front: not half sufficient med
icines no doctors. no proper hospitals.
should be left to lie in the mud on blan-
ket if they had one, without if they had
none, nor even why midwinter undercloth-
ing should be sent to Cuba and mid-sum-
mer gauze undershirts to Montauk in
company with siege guns intended for
Santiago? The accomplishing en-
durance of our men has been simply he
role They bore wounds, sickness, -priva-
ton, death even, without word 1t was
only neglect, starvation in fact, and abuse
In the hospitals, which. called forth the
letters sent home to their families, letters
which were sent TO me by broken hearted
mothers. accompanied by pitiful appeals
to try to help theiH sons. wish your Com
m mlaSion Of could a- r ff2shsmfssa TT m hs
sSaI I cannot even quote from
The witnesses have established mon
strous incapacity, even greater negligence
and indifference and political interference.
We have furnished you the facts
showing you the brutality cruelty, ne
government was under every obligation to
protect. and who were especially helpless
because they had to rely on such protec-
ton. were starved even in a land of plen-
cases practically murdered, and we have
shown you an Indifference to and belit-
thing of human Sufferngs which continue
even now.
one, if we to have an army which
shall be efficient and to be relied on,
these crimes and blunders must be cor
rected. and your Commission must cor
rect them.
This is the meat of the letter which
the Intelligencer deliberately suppress
ed for very apparent partisan pur-
pose, although it was the most import
ant item sent out by the Associated
Press.
The Fourteenth street organ stands
convicted of this bit of dishonest par
tisan work and deliberate fraud upon
its readers, who pay for the news, and
no amount of Misrepresentation of the
Register will serve to obscure the fact.