New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-27
everything was supplied that was necessary. and
Tho i,.cd. 10 hna o. ca

everything was supplied that was necessary. ana
tho sick received the best Of care.
ROBERT r. ROosEvELTs LETTER.
Captain Howell then read the following letter
addressed the Commission by Robert y. Rooso-
Welt secretary Of the Committee OF the Society TOT
tho Protection Soldiers:
New-york. November ~
To the Presidential Commission Of inquiry. ros,
Gentlemen: have noticed IN the in nor
who have testified at The request OF the committee
formed In this city 10 protect the H., ranch
groundless and inexcusabe suffering was iniic,en
the Army they do not fix the re-ponsin,'y o mTl
show who is to blame. n the views OF your me be
mission are correctly rspor'el her SUPPOSED That
all the witnesses were TO do was 10 prov M -
and that the Commission would TX the responn.-
by-indeed. was appointed for the express p PUT
pose Of fixing the responsibility -and that y wouh,
have beer case OF presumption. might p e ~"
q case Of cruel injustice II any witness hai una
taken TO express his opinion on me ro'u sopmod
which ne was Of necessity only partly lnioIui'u;;
our SO, soldiers viii be- oSecra;ed in this community
No knows better than myself how nocp , t'if T.
viii regret doinE so and any person VINO ,nrons
ignorance Or prejudice directs into an S
channel Is doing n great wrong the n'rol. ppl'
may forget their sunerIngs. may even refuse 70 t
tify to them but their mothers VIII not anu ''''''
Nor will it do to take refuge behind the errors T.
enr Inf e Sc North he" No one here could believe
In the possibility or so hideous a ioy, Th dis
lowed blundcr after blunder. disgrace atttr ", "a
There no intentional cruelty sSh fo a.
has so often prevailed in this war. but 90 you iI ho
shoddy clothing the demurrage on transport bu,
tho men starved. and the sick were tTea,er
with all possible attention and Kindness Ndltl
was not sold to feverracked sufferers at 10 cent
glass. food was not sold to sitrVl tr t me- diving
not eaten 10y the officers. But suppos' H 'i.u
Srs had 6Gen hounnd gs pow that our men
should he with arms out OF datc, that uIr.
portaton to carry food the front MOI half sun
Client medicine nor doctors no proper shonId
be left to lie in the mud n blanket II iney ~
ono without II they had none. nor even why mo,
midsummer gauze undersults to Montauk, in com
pany with the siege guns intended for SANTIAGO.
of those who might be Witnesses here have taltel
appear before YOU There are gooh rrasohs o 1u
Commission 70 greater carnestress, II that wer'
nos5Ps TN S drdg fhegb Bore
sickness privations to death even without TTiu
in the hospitals which called forth letters and me"
only home to their families; etters VITO" ri,f ar
by broken hearted mothers IN pltmu1 .o np-
peals 10 try help their sons WISH you. , o1,,
mission could have read them 5qt As @ cagn % even
quote from them.
GROSS ABUSES ALLEGED.
TIE witnesses have established monstrous in
capacity even greater negligence and indireTence
and political interference. That they have not iu'
confidence in the power OF your Commission no
matter how good IFS will 10 meet all the require
/
your own doubts but in spite OF that they seem u
have done their snare, and it would seem that II
only remains for you DO your best even II tha'
best is not quite satisfactory TO yourselves. u
least there Is power which has honestly en-
dcavored to do them justice; has endeayorcd TO re-
vVe that patriotism which was so grandly tlourlsh
! ing five months ago but has been npped IN th'
frost Of brutality and neglect You can air'ct {G
inquiries in the first place 10 the tood supply ~
! Qua who gets the difference between the nDer1
rations allowed by the Government ana the nleaet'
!
soldiers. The witnesses are the books ard the ro
! in the public departments 20 which YOU nave iui
| access Find out who left the medicines. the t"'
| fully equipped hospitals and the amouIances -
on the transports which were delayed Tor "eei
| by the rumors Of the Spanish Meet. ny %enera
Niless intelligent directions make list OF every
thing which was slowed ON board and where, 81
each article could be easily got az, ana 10 put
How can any witnesses within our reach give yo
this information? We have furnished you n.
facts. shown you brutality. cruelty neslect inul'
ference: how men whom the Government wa
under every obligation to protect and VINO mao ,
right TO rely on such protectlon were s'arnru i
! in a land Of plenty. were uncared for Wheil SICK
left without attention when wounded were a3 '
! We have shown You an Indifference and belittlin.
Of human suherings which continues even H., now.
this Nation Is to become warIike one II we are |,
| have an Army which shall he eiiicent ana 20 u
relied upon these crimes ana ninders m'St ne cor
rected. and your Commission must correct tiiei'
/ Is not for you to make the feeble excuse that on
legal power. no legal existence even snail sh9uiu
/ this responsibility for you. In saving ms 40 no
In the least 10 express Il dolot ol '.'ntl N'.'
1 ability or desire 10 do 50. for the whole countr
urges upon YOU the necessity to succeed Your
! very respec,flnlv ROBFRT g. ROOSEVELT
Secretary Committee for Protection OF the Soldiers
| General Dodge suggested that the letter be re
ceveI and filed Captain Howell seconded IN
notion we have invited all the witnesses TO tel
us everything they knew ne said. We nav
! made end are making every honest effort to &c
! witnesses and TO get the truth from them d
! answer am ready to stand on the record or IN
| ord but | do not need Mr.. Roosevelt or any on
/ else TO make UP my mind for me.
! Ex-Governor Beaver spoke on me same Ilhes' an
bv general consent General Dodge's suggestion va
/ adopted. , r -,
/ The afternoon session completed the work or TN
! Commission in this city. and the members went
/ Boston by the midnight train. General Dodge an
! nounced that the Commission would receive all In
/ tending witnesses at the Parker House on Monda
| morning at o'clock