The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-04
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4. 1858.
ruE TRUTH WILLBEFoRCED OUT

The deadiiest poisons have their uses
ana Shakespeare tells us we may find
sermons in stones, books in running
brooks and good in everything"
The New York World has done the
country harm enough. Heaven knows
and a century OF sackcloth and ashes
with repentance and good deeds for every
moment would be insufficient atonement
for the evil it has wrought TO the Ameri-
can people. II has done one thing now,
however. thai inclines us 10 pardon much
that ought to have sent IL TO eternal pun
ishment. one OF It's agents or correspon-
dents or whatever it may call them Owe
believe the New York Journal calls It's
boot-blacks its commissioner }, a man
named Nelson Uersh has filed state
ment before the Army Investigation Com
mission that Mr.. Mckinley has appoint
ed. IN which he has specified in great de-
tail the points in which there was defec-
tive supply and monumental mismapage-
ment at Camp Wikoff. He has not only
told the commission in what mismanage-
ment and gross abuse of power consisted,
but he has given the names OF the wit
nesses that will prove in detail each ale
CATION that he makes.
This is the first step so far taken that
looks Ike real business in this investiga-
ton, II Is useless TO deny that the public
at large has not SO far. had much conn
dence In the proposed inquiry. The be-
lief Is very general that the commission
was appointed and organized to white
wash the War Department. and the gen.
eral public has not expected any more
real information at the end OF the in
quiry than it now has. We are sorry TO
have to admit that the proceedings OF the
commission so far have not been strongly
inspiring 10 confidence. We may have
been hasty in our judgment, but the case
IL one that naturally arouses suspicion,
and we feared We detected signs from the
beginning of a court organized TO acQuit.
Mr. Hersh, however. has now laid spe-
oifc charges before the commission, with
this names of witnesses to prove them,
that will make II difficult to suppress the
truth even II the commission be 50 in
clined. These witnesses must now be
called and the public IS certain to know
what they testify 10. If conditions at
Camp Wikotf arc half as bad an they
have been represented, the facts viii now
be known, and no commissioners report
will be able TO screen the responsible par
ties. however anxious 10 so II may be.
We are entirely convinced that the pub
lie does not know one tenth OF the real
truth about Camp Wikor, and that when
the facts come to light it Will be aston
ished at the villainy, the corruption and
tho rascally jobbery Of which It was the
scene. Travelling upon the cars recently
We fell in with an army officer. who is
also a physician. and. on this account. he
had been detached from his command
for service as an army physician at San
tiago first and then at Camp Wikon.
When we fell in with him he was return
ing from Camp Wikof 20 his regiment
This gentleman talked withsperfect free
dom about the conditions ahat prevailed
both at Santiago and at Camp Wikoff.
and according TO his account, those at
Camp Wikoff were worse. II possible
than those at Santiago. We feel sure If
the statements of this gentleman alone
were laid before the American people
there would ensue such food OF indig-
nation that Mr.. Alger, or whoever else
IS responsible. would be driven out OF the
War Department. Three things seemed
perfectly clear from what he said: First,
that our soldiers were practically muir
dered in camp; second. that there is a
political job in the contract for supply
ing the War Department with medicines
and, third. that there was another po-
iiticai Job IN establishing the camp at
Moniauk Point-presumably for the ben
eft OF tho single railway that runs 10
tho place.
We believe every word this gentleman
told us 10 be true and. being true there
was necessarily political tranicklng OF the
most scandaious character In supplying
tho army with what It needed for the
recent campaign.
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