The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-09-08
MOSCOW OR MoNTAUK ?

An exchange asks: (Which is the |
sadder Of the two great war stories of
the country, Moscow or Montauk2"
OF $4,000 men at Montauk there are |
1 800 in hospital, and hundreds more
ought to be.
The question is, who is our Weyler2 |
The organized camps have proved as
deadly as the Spanish camps in Cuba to |
the reconcentrados.
Surgeon General sternberg has re-
peatedly declared that everything in the
medical department of the United States
was all right. Now he is going to inves-
tigate and inpartially report results
Good Our great surgeon-general will
now investigate !
While the country wants investigation
as to camp and other abuses, the people
do not want 1t at the hands Of General
Alger. A congressional investigation
will suit the people better for that will
involve the Secretary Of War himself.
The only objection to investigation by
congress is the delay. The inquiry
should be gone into at once, while the
testimony is fresh, and can be had.
There should be nodelay in this matter
Indeed it would justify an extra session
of congress.
Report says General Alger stated:
'There will be no investigation, because
there is nothing to investigate" The
American people do not agree with Mr..
Alger; and the President cannot lend
himself to this lest the load should prove
too heavy for his administration.
Nothing but full investigation will save
from condemnation.
The President is quoted in recent in.
terview as declaring that "when the
time comes" everything in connection
with the mismanagement Of the camps
and troop ships twill be thoroughly in
vestigated, and if there are guilty parties
they shall be punished"
Fairly spoken; and surely the time is
now. Living witnesses can now be had,
whereas by delaying death will lay its
Geld grasp upon many who could, in
life, tell a woeful and narrowing tale.
"Nowls the accepted dme" for action in
the premises.
"When the time comes" Is quite in
definite. The proper time is now 80 far
as the President is concerned. Why
should he not direct an inquiry at once2
Why say "when the time comes?' had
William ]. Bryan been elected in 1896
and he were the president under these
circumstances our Republican friends
would be fairly bowling for investiga-
ton. What clamor and racket they
would be raising!
This shuffling business ought to come
to an end. Secretary Alger is credited
with saying. "0f course in many in
stances supplies were allowed to gel
short before other supplies were ordered.
This is due partly to the fact that no one
had an adequate idea of the immense
amount Of stuff, that would be needed.
Does this secretary think people art
fools? Knowing the number Of men, the
commissary general can tell the supplies
required. This all shows theextremitie,
to which these men are put to find ex
cuses.
The same sad and horritying tales o.
suffering and death of the brave and
gallant soldier boys come from all parts
of the country. Ohio is not an excep
ton, tor other states are equally afflicted
and Mortified at the outrageous and in
excusable treatment and terrible conse
quences resulting therefrom. Indeed
the American people were never sc
shocked and stirred up. 1t need not bt
said that all this was wholly unexpected
and it is not for lack Of means anG
abundance, and hence the general ol
rather universal indignation that il
aroused, and which is gathering force al
the facts come out and are understood