The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-09-17
The Crime OF the Century.

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IA worm has been eating TIE llee
ont Of Camp Wikof, said SENATOR
Mason Of Illinois to-day. And
that worm il red tape. 4 has made
! hall out Of one Of the finest camps
the American army ever saw"
Senator Mason is stopping ct the
Oriental Hotel, Manhattan Beach,
and declares that bis visit East has
been spoiled by the horrors Of
Montauk Point.
"Montauk Point is . grand site
for camp" said the Senator. Il
never saw q moro magnificent one.
The soil is good, the air bracing, the
water wholesome. II is an ideal
spot, but with all this it was mon
umental idiocy to select site by q
one-horse railroad. q second-class
railroad, a railroad which contesses
publicly over the signature Of it,
president that it cannot handle
more than one regiment day.
'Gross stupidity or deliberate
purpose put that camp on this road
and, mark you, the investigation
will prove which. The inyestiga-
ton, yes; for, by the Eternal, as
soon as Congress meets there will
be an ventilation of every Granny
hole of the War Department and
it's branches. which will place the
culpability. the cupidity, the in
competency, and God help the man
who does not stand from under"
Senator Mason, as he reflected
over the sufferings of the men OF
his State, waxed very indignant.
shameful, disgraceful, Internal,
damnable-there is no word or term
too strong to use, not alone against
the official neglect and blunderings,
but also against the railroad.
Deaths lie to 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 allowing
anyone to hold position where his
laundering would hurt.
will the apology of the Govern
meat, Someone has Numbered,
give us back our dead? Will it
cause US to forget the sufferings Of
our fever-stricken boys? Will il
fill the aching void in our hearts?
Is it balm sufficient to heal the torn
and broken hearts that are bleeding
in thousands of homes throughout
the land? Will it make us forget
the agonies of our families, the
bloody sweat of our camps? Some
one has blundered 7 What an ex-
cuse for q Government to make
through it's Secretary of War!
"This is the crime of the century.
the tragedy of the nation. Our
soldiers have not poured out their
hearts blood on tho altar of their
country, but have been cruci6ed by
laundering and plundering official
dom. Our heads are bowed in deep
woe; we must bow them lower with
shame.
Gall the world acclaimed our
hundred days. war. Every tongue
was af1ame with the glory of Amer
lea, her valiant army, her superb
navy. To-day the world is stricken
dumb with horror, Christianity is
aghast, and we've are listening to
the apology of the Government,
Some one has blundered,' and look
on with streaming eyes at some
ones blunders being manifolded.
II do not criticise the army itself.
Officers and men have behaved and
fought as Americans always fight.
Their gallantry is the one theme
that we can go back to with pleas
ure. But / do condemn the Com
missary Department and the Medi-
cal Department with all my strenth
and my power, and l hope very
soon to see a thorough and proper
investigation of the horrors lay the
blame where it rightfully belongs.
a-
Porto Rico n Winter Resort
'Let me raise my voice in
prophecy and then wait and sea If