The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-09-16
FAILURE PREDICTED.
Army Leaders Disapprove Of the
Proposed Army Investigation.
OFFICERS WILL REFUSE TO TESTIFY.
They Say the Comm,ssion VIII Have No
Power to Compel Them to Tell What
They Know Mckinley Talks
Guardediy az Philippines.

Washington, Sept IA. Two of the
gentlemen selected by the president as
members of the commission to investi-
gate the conduct of the war have prac-
tically accepted, Col. Sexton and Dr.
Gilman. Favorable responses are
looked for from Gen. Dodge aud DIR.
Keen, thus insuring four members of
the body. The difficulty which Is be-
ing experienced in the construction of
the proposed commission for the in
vestigation of the conduct of the staff
branches of the army during the war
with Spain has excited some dis
cussion in military circles as to
the possibility of the practical
failure of any investigation by a
commission. 1t develops that there is
a decided disapproval among army
officers of the proposition to have the
conduct of the war Investigated by
civil commission which cannot be
clothed with any judicial authority.
The objection is not on account of any
civil authorities interfering in mill
tary matters, but is due to the fact
that testimony before commission
not possessing judicial authority
would be, in a manner, voluntary, and
would, it is said, put officers in the
attitude If gratuitously giving testi-
mony which might be damaging to in
dividuals or to the administration of
the war department.
Army officers say that it would be no
trouble to get all the information
there is concerning the campaign at
Santiago, the management of the war
through the department and the oper-
atoms of the medical, the quarter
masters and the commissary depart
ment, II a tribunal or board were or
ganized with authority to compel
testimony, but that officers will not
jeopardize their own interests nor put
themselves in the attitude of being
voluntary informers when the compo-
sition of the commission making the
inquiry is not such as to make it com
pulsory to tell what they may know.
They say 1t will be impossible for
commission not having the power to
compel the testimony to get at facts.
Most officers, they say, will make 1t
point of honor, as well as matter
of self-interest, to decline to give tes-
timony of any Importance unless com
PEELED to. II the commission could
compel testimony, an officer giving
testimony which might be damaging
would have the excuse that he had no
choice but to tell what he knew. In
the absence of authority to compel
testimony, the witness would have
right to conceal or decline to disclose
any facts in his possession.
Tuu ppEaTnENT TAIKa
Baltimore, Md, Sept IA delega-
ton Of represents tives of members of
the Society of Friends returned yes
terday from Washington, where they
had an important interview with
President Mckinley and presented
him with an appeal, urging disarma-
ment, arbitration and suppression of
the military spirit The president
asked the Friends how much of the
Philippine islands did they think we
should hold. They replied: Simply
a base for supplies" The president
then said:
In order to do that large standing army
will he required II is question with me how
much destiny there is in the present situation
and what Is our duty to these people. NY mind
is open. No decision has been reached by me,
question to-day. To paciiy Cuba, which we
are bound to do, will require $1,000 men and
from 1900 to $1,000 additional men will be
needed for awhile in Porto Rico You will
agree with me that the use OF the army as a
police force Is at present juStihablc and will be
necessary for some time.
The message from tho emperor Of Russia
looking TO the disarmament Of nations has met
with my approval and l have ofcally COM
municated with the car and have already APP
pointed a representative OF this country TO
meet with those OF other nations at the inter-
national peace conference proposed by him.
am In sympathy with the Society OF Friends
In the belief that peace is the proper condition
for nations l was not in favor of the war with
Spain but when once In II thought II was
most conducive to peace to push II vigorously
TO close
sometimes think that large naval arma-
ment conduces toward peace, in that It compels
peace but on the other hand nation so
equipped Is like man who walks around with
a chip on his shoulder