The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-25
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 25. 1895.


Tho testimony given on Tuesday last by
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt to the wan
Department Investigating Commission
had more solid stun in 1t than anyinihs
.lse that the commission has hed'u'
Amongst other noteworthy Things u'"'
10 .o,d there was some special informa-
ton in regard to the clothing OF MS n'e"
ue said they were clothed in materlai
called kahh, but. said he. II was not
tahki. He. himself. had bought SUIT Oh
that material before he went to Ouoa'
and A. lasted him all through the cam
IL, ,o tho most serviceable manner.
But the clothes of his men tore ana
narted. and proved to be utterly worth
,sss The meaning OF this is that Coiohei
Roosevelt bought his suit from taiior
u,bo furnished what he represented that
he sold. But an army contractor furnish-
ed the clothes the men had. and whie
receiving pay for genuine kahki' ne iuf-
,,,shed sbodav and rotten stuff that was
not kahkl.
Now here IS a lead for the commission
II It is really anxious to find out what
the people want to know about the war
This IS the point upon which tncy WISH
information. The people believe that MI
Aieer the Secretary Of War, has award
Oh an the patronage OF the War Depart
ment TO his personal and political iav-
critics. that they might plumber the Gov
ernmen. to their hearts content and get
rich at its expense. Let this matter
OF the kahki contract be explored TO its
bottom. Find out who was given that
contract. what connection there is be-
tween him and Alger or between Alger
and the person whose favorite he was.
Fiad out what it was agreed he was TO
have for kahki, what genuine kahh
I'm great bulk can be bought for, and
what the stun that this contractor fur
nishcd can be bought for. and, when this
contract is thoroughly ventilated, and ali
the doors are explored that examine
ton OF it will open, then the people
Will find out whether Alger has used the
publc money for his own advantage ~
for the best interests Of the public, and
that is what they want information
about.
Colonel Roosevelts useful suggestions
were not confined 10 this matter. His
detail OF the conditions at Tampa, when
his regiment arrived there, were full of
valuable suggestions. We have never
yet been able TO understand who com
manded them while the expedition for
Santiago was being embarked-whether
shaficr or Mnes-but we judge from
Roosevelts testimony that It was Shafter
He says he asked General Shaltcr what
vessel he should get his men on, ana
that Shaftcr told him TO ask his quarter
master. from which We assume that
everything was being done under Shat
ters orders, and that he had committed
this special matter TO his quartermaster-
general Then followed testimony from
Roosevelt as to the utter confusion and
| tumble in al the arrangements connected
with the embarkation OF the troops ana
ksacir supplies, which amply confirmed ali
Ithat the public has heretofore heard
hipon this subject, and then the inference
Ybecame Irresistible that Shefter was the
Hncompetent party who was responsible
Ifor all the confusion. 1t is true he san
lsay his quartermaster was ordered TO
embark the command intelligiDly and in
AN orderly way But real general
never leaves such matters 10 any one lie
orders the quartermaster to do the tning.
and he then follows the matter up and
sees that 1t is done rightly.
Roosevelts testimony has ciinchcd the
matter with US, and has made II clear
TO US that all the distress our army
was subjected to in the Santiago cam
paign lies directly at the door Of General
shaftcr. who was no more qualified for
the command Of that expedition than an
ordinary sehoOl-boy And then the ques-
ton remains. Who is responsible for
shafter being pus In command OF THAI
expeditiong He is from Michigan. Was
he not placed in command by that other
Michigan warrior. Secretary Alger?