The evening times., 1898-09-10
CRIMES OF SCARLET DYE
Senator MasOn's Comments on
the Red-Tape Worm.
BANE OF A NATIONS ARMY
Deductions of an Illinois Member of
Congress Upon the War Depart-
ment System of Caring for Sol
diers nt Montauk Point-CuipnbIe
Ignorance and Neglect.

eating the life out OF Camp Wikoff. said
Senator Mason of Illinois yesterday.
.And that worm is red tape. II has made
a hell out of one of the finest camps
the American army ever saw"
.'Out In our Western country" he said.
people hear of the ocean. but seldom
see it. When they do come East to the
Atlantic they simply walIow In II. / have
been wallowing. We have spent some
delightful days in Greater New York,
but the pleasure of our trip has been en-
tirely marred by the horrors of Camp
Wikoff, where so many of our own boys
suffered. and where many of my per-
sonal friends were encamped.
"Montauk Point Is a grand site for a
camp. 1 never saw a more magnificent
one. The soil Is good the air bracing
the water wholesome. 1t Is an ideal spot
But. with all this. IL was monumental
idiocy TO select a site fed by a one-horse
railroad, a railroad that confesses pub
licly over the signature of its president
that IL cannot handle more han one reg
iment day. Gross stupidity or deliber-
ate purpose put the camp on this road,
and. mark you. the investigation will
prove which. The investigation, yes: for
by the Eternal so soon as Congress
meets there will be a ventilation of every
crannyhole of the War Department and
it's branches; will place the culpability.
the cupidity. the incompetence, and God
help the man who does not stand from
under.
Observations at Montnuk.
Senator Mason describes his visit TO
Montauk and says he simply went there
because he was an American and knew
that American soldiers were suffering and
while he thought he might not be able
| to do much, he might, as an American
senator be of some benefit to the people
/ from his section of the country. He de-
I scribes the preliminary arrangement for
/ the transportation of the Illino troops to
! their homes, the orders for which came at
/ 10 O'Clock at night of the day of his ar
rival. The men. he says. were delighted
The men were awake half the night. /
am sure with excitement, says the sena-
/ tor.
They were astir before daylight next
morning. At o'clock the camp was in
the midst of packing up The Govern
! ment orders were to have everything
{ ready to be moved to the station at Z
! o'clock The men hustled and had IL
I ready. The Government sent its wagons
round and carted the stuff off to the sta
( ton and the men followed soon after, in
| the belief that a train was waiting for
/ them. You cannot imagine what a terri
BILE disappointment II must have been to
those men to have to- wait twelve hours
/ for train and then to be taken at a
/ snails pace on their journey. When the
men were packing l stood near the colo
/ nel's tent and heard many of them talk
/ ing Their talk was all of home and the
I dear ones they would see in day or
/ two They were going home"-that was
/ the keynote of all.
( They talked Of Mamie and Lizzie, y
of mothers and brothers and sisters They
. told each other how proud the dear Old
/ father would be, and what each home
/ coming meant to them well as TO the
folks. And then came swiftly word that
there was a big delay. that they might
not get home for some time The men
dropped visibIy the sick had relapses.
! The electricity of their spirits had van
ished | had full faith that the regiment
would leave on schedule time. and I went
away on the train which was supposed 10
! precede theirs. l was astounded to hear
| of the delay the conduct of the railroad
| and the conduct of the local quarter
! masters
Treatment of the Troops.
| Senator Mason, as he reflected over the
| sufTerings of the men of his State, waxed
very indignant. Shameful, disgracefuI
| Internal. damnable-there is no word oil
/ term too strong 10 use not alone against
/ the official neglect and blunderings, but
/ also against the railroad. Deaths lie tC
! their door as much as on the heads OF
( officials of the War Department. Some
| one has blundered. Yes. it is we'll to SAY
that now, when it is too late.
! But someone is responsible for allow
ing anyone to hold a position where nj:
! blundering would hurt. VIII the apology
/ of the Government. Someone has blum
dered. give us back our dead? viii i
| cause us to forget the sufferings of Ou
fever-stricken boys? viii it fill the achin.
| void of our hearts? Is il balm sufficien
to heal the torn and broken hearts tha
! are bleeding in thousands of home.
throughout the land? Will il make u:
/ forget the agonies of our families. tn,
| bloody sweat of our camps? Someone
has blunderedr What an excuse for
Government to make through its Secre
tary of War.
Il do not criticise the army itself. Off
GERS and men have behaved and fough
| theme that we can so back to with pleas
ure. But l do condemn the commissar!
departments and the medical department.
with all my strength and my power, ant
/ hope very soon TO see a thorough ant
proper investigation of the horrors la!
| the blame where it rightfully belongs.