The times., 1898-11-22
RooscYeIt ns a Mitness.

Roosevelt as a Witness.
There was an absurd rumor that Gen.
eral Dodge-of> all men on earth except
Secretary Alger the least likely to do
such a thing-had requested Colonel
Roosevelt to testify before the Alger Re-
lief Commission. We can conceive of
nothing better calculated to cause that
examiner to throw a fit than the ap-
pearance of the author of the round
robin on the stand, unless it would be
that of General Miles. According to all
information in the possession of the
public, Colonel Roosevelt is bursting
with knowledge of things that went
wrong in the Santiago campaign.
Whether the visit of Secretary Alger to
Senator Platt soon after Roosevelt's
nomination diminished The colonels in
terest in the revelation of the truth
about the blunders and abuses that
wrecked the army in which he was a
conspicuous figure, is question; but it
is certain that when Secretary Alger
made public a private letter which he
had received from the Rough Rider. the
sight of a beefsteak. His most intimate
friends said that when he should be
mustered out the country would learn
things about the conduct of the war
that would make Cabinet officer seek
the seclusion of a Michigan lumber
camp.
1t is supposed that in his secreted re-
port Colonel Roosevelt has detailed
many facts that produced the conditions
touched upon in the round robin. The
supposition has been confirmed in the
minds of not few people by the care
with which that report is guarded. 1t
is incased in a steel box and placed in
a vault with a time lock that is set for
fully a year away, and armed watch
men are detailed to stand before its
door. Not hint of its nature has
escaped from the War Office, which
shows that its revelations are known
only to the interested head officials.
What could a mere colonel of volun-
teer regiment have to say that would
warrant such secrecy, when the reports
of generals are given out without hesi-
tation? If he had simply told of his
part in the fray-which was large, of
course, and perhaps the most important
and decisive part-there could be no
such desire to conceal it, Besides. Colo
mel Roosevelt, himself. has publicly con-
fessed that he was it, in the war. and
that but for his own courage and dash
we might be asking Spain for terms of
peace, instead of conceding successive
postponements at Paris.
In reply to the question whether
Dodge had begged him to tell what he
knows about Ayers incompetency.
Colonel Roosevelt said no; but that he
was willing to suspend work on his
magazine account of how he crushed
Spain long enough TO enlighten the
Commission. In fact, he seemed rather
eager for the chance. Assuming that
the Secretary of War did not leave a
large contribution with Senator Platt
to apply to Roosevelts campaign, and
that the hero of San Juan could not be
influenced by any such consideration.
his examination would make an inter-
esting days work for the Commission.
He has said that his men died on the
fighting line, and also after. He knows
something of the causes of their suffer-
ings. and that is what the Commission
ought to hear, 1t is particularly de-
sirable to have Roosevelt testify, be-
cause when he gets warmed UP to his
work he will not be restrained TO the
questions Dodge may ask.
His apparent desire to testify should
make it difficult for the Commission,
now in session in New York, to pass him
by. as it has General Miles.