The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-09-16

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Guardedly oF PhuipplnaA
Washington, Sept 1.-Two Of the
gentlemen selected by the president IS
members Of the commission to invssti-
gate the conduct Of the war have prac-
ticaIly accepted, Col. Sexton aud DR..
Gilman. Favorable responses sre
looked for from Gen. Dodge and Dr..
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 star
branches Of the army during the war
with Spain has excited some dis
cussion in military circles as 70
the possibility Of the practical
failure of any investigation by a
commission. It develops that there Is
q decided disapprovsl among army
officers Of the proposition 70 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 q commission
would be, in manner, voluntary, and
would, It is said, put officers in the
attitude Of 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
h. Of the
through the department and the oper-
atoms OF the medical, the quarter
masters and the commissary depart
ment, If a tribunal or board were or
gained with authority TO compel
testimony, but that officers viii not
ieopardize 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 IL will be impossible for
commission not having the power 70
compel the testimony to get at facts
Most officers, they say, viii make it
a point of honor, as well as a matter
/ Of self-interest, to decline TO give tes-
timony Of any Importance unless com
PEELED to. If the commission could
compel testimony, an officer giving
| testimony which might be damaging
would have the excuse that ne 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
THE PRESIDENT TALKS GUAEDEK-
Baltimore, Nd, Sept. IA delega-
ton Of represen tatives 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
base for supplies" The president
then said:
In order 70 do that g large standing army
viii be required It IS question with me how
much destiny there Is in the present situatiOl
and what Is our duty 20 these people. Ny mind
IS open. No decision has been reached b me,
ana, fortunately, I do not have 70 decide the
question to-day. To pacify Cuba, which We
are DOunu 70 90 VIII require SS'O1o Asls -
from 1900 70 n, 900 additional men VIII be
needed for awhile IA Porto Rico You viii
aqree with ne that the use Of the army as
police force IS a. present iustifEble and win be
necessary for some time
The message from the emperor Of Russia
looking to the disarmament Of nations has net
with my approval and have Oficially con-
muufcated with the car and have slready ap-
pointed q representative Of this country 90
meet with those OF other nations at the inter-
national peace conference proposed b. him
an IN sympathy with the Society Of Friends
in the belief that peace Is the proper condition
for nations was not in favor Of the war with
Spain. but when once fn Il thought it vas
most conducive 70 peace 70 push j. vigorously
70 3 close
I somstimss think that large naval anna
ment conducss toward psacs. in that e eomDels
peace, but on the other hand . nation 50
equipped Is Ike man who walks around With
q chin on his shoulder.