Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-09-29
THE INQUIRY BEGINS.
War Investigation Commission Will
Try to Locate the Blame.
Meets and Organizes with Gen. Dodge
as Chairman-Address of Presi-
dent Mckinley Points Out
It's Duty. -

Washington, Sept. 26.-The commits
sion to investigate the conduct of the
war department. during the recent
conflict with Spain held it's initial
meeting in the office of President Nc
Kinley at the white house Saturday.
There were eight members present
and it was announced that the serv-
ices of ninth man were counted upon,
though his name was not made public
The eight who we're present were:
Maj. Gen. Granville NJ. Dodge, of
Iowa; COL j. A. Sexton, of Illinois;
Capt. E. p. Howell, of Georgia.; Mai.
Gen. j. NJ. Wilson, chief Of engineers of
the United States army; Hon. Charles
DENLY, of Indiana, late minister to
China; exGov. Urban A. Woodbury.,
of Vermont; ex-Gov. James A. Beaver,
of Pennsylvania, and Maj. Gen. H. Med.
Cook, of the army (retired).
The appearance of ex-Gov. Beaver as
member of the commission was
surprise, as his selection was not
known until he appeared at the white
house at the beginning of the session.
Alger Requests the investigation.
The commission spent an hour and
half with the president and then pro-
ceeded to the room assigned it at the
war department for the purpose of
organizing and beginning work.
The proceedings with the president
consisted in the main of general ex-
change of views as to the scope of the
commissions investigation, in which
the president participated quite free
ly. He told the members that the
organization of the commission had
been undertaken at the request of
Secretary Alger, and read a letter
from the secretary, in which he made
the request.
Secretary Ayers request. as made
in the letter read by the president. was
for a complete inquiry into the conduct
of the war, especially on the lines
of the charges published in the news
papers. He said these charges had
assumed such magnitude that he did
not feel satisfied to have the depart
ment rest under them, and that he de-
sired an investigation by men emf
nent in military and civil life.h ?
The Presidents Address,.
In addressing the commission the
president said, among other things:
Gentlemen: Before suggesting the mat
tiers, which shall come before you for in
vest1gation desire to express my appre-
citation to each of you for your willing
ness to accept the patriotic service 10
which you have been invited You are to
perform one of the highest public duties
that can fall to citizen, and your I'M
selfshness in undertaking it makes me pro-
foundry grateful.
There. has been in many quarters Sc
we're criticism of the conduct of the war
with Spain. Charges of criminal neglect
OF the soldiers in camp and field and hos
pltal and In transports have been so per-
s1stent that, whether true or false, they
nave made a deep impression, upon the
country. 1t is my earnest desire that YOU
shall thoroughly investigate these charges
and make the fullest examination of the
administration of the war department in
an OF its branches, with the view to estab-
fishing the truth or falsity Of these ac-
cusatlons' l put upon you2no limit to the
scope of your investigation. Of all de-
partments connected with the army I in
Vite the closest scrutiny and examina ton.
and shall afford every facility for the most
searching inquiry. The records of the war
department and the assistance of its Of
II cannot impress upon you too STRONGLY
my wish that your investigation shall be
so thorough and complete that your re-
port when made will fix the responsibility
for any failure or fault by reason Of neg
lect, incompetency or maladministra ton
upon the officers and bureaus responsible
therefor-if it be found that the evils com
planned OF have existed. .,n iz-fifsf,. g. .
THE people of the country are entitled
to know whether or not the citizens who
so promptly responded to the call Of duty
have been neglected or misused or NAL
treated by the government to which thew
so willingly gave their services If there
have been wrongs committed, the wrong
doors must not escape conviction and pun
ishment."
After the close of the conference at
the white house the president ex-
pressed his satisfaction with the per-
sonnet of the commission, adding that
he believed their investigation would
be thorough and their report fair and
impartial. ~, ~
The commission organized by elect
ing Granville NJ Dodge chairman and
Richard Weightman secretary. Mai.
Mills, of the inspector generals office,
is to be military recorder. The com
mission adjourned about 1880 to meet
at ten o'clock to-day. ~.
The session was devoted to method
of procedure, nothing definite being
reached. It was said that probably
the Investigation SO far as examina-
ton of witnesses would be open, but
other proceedings in. executive ses-
sion,
84 Turk Looks for Victims.
New York, Sept. 26.-Abdul Halli
Adali, the champion wrestler of Tur-
keY.a@Who has Just arrived here. has