The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-09-21

cluded 10 talk with General Otis, who
made vague promises Of greater liberal
| ity in the censorship, that were not full
filed, and the dispatch was withheld
another month. Mr.. Collins says:
"About the middle Of June wrote q
conservative review TO the effect that
everyone here was convinced that II
would be impossible 10 end the war dur.
ing the rainy season and for some time
thereafter unless heavy re.eniorcements
were sent.
"The censor's comment Il made note
Of itl was: 'Oi course we all know that
we are in a terrible mess out here, but
we don't want the people to get excited
about il. II you fellows will only keep
quiet now we will pull through in time
without any fuss at home.
ole took the story Of General Otis,
who said: Tell Collins that II he will
hold that for week or ten days he will
thank me Tor not letting him send II,
aud when went 10 see him repeated
the same old story about the insurrec-
tion going TO pieces, and hinted 80 por-
tontously about having wonderful things
up his sleeve that almost believed him
In the face Of past experiences Of the
same sort. The other men had practic-
ally the same experience, each one try
ing 10 get through u story of how mat
ters stood ut the beginning Of the rainy
season, then ON"
Al last the patience Of the correspond
ents gave out aud they decided to send
the dispatch. What followed we give
In the words Of Mr.. Collins, that clear
idea Of the facts may be- had'
"As a matter OF form we took the mes
sage 10 the censor. His comment was
practically the same that lac had made
ON my message. lie did not question
the accuracy OF the statement Of condi-
tions, but saidi "This In just the sort of
matter the censorship is intended 10 sup
press. lie, Of course, took II to Otis,
who in turn sent messenger requesting
Davis of the New York sun 10 go aud
see him, doubtless thinking that IA he
had treated the sun as his organ, and
its correspondents being under oblig-
tions 10 him for special layors, lac could
work them 10 give upthe plan. Thomp-
son said he (Thompsonl thought Collins
and McCutcheon should 20 also, ~ their
views had always been very conservative,
etc. A committee was choscn-Dayis,
McCutcheon, Bass and |.
"Whcn We were ushercl into Otis
room hc said with some anger 'Gcu-
tlemeu, you served AN extraordinary
paper upon me, You accused me OF
ialsehood. This constitutes conspir-
acy against the government. will have
you tried boy general court martial and
let you choose the judges. We knew
from experience with threats to put YOU
OIL the island that there was nothing to
he frightened about, and also knew that
all the officers who would be ON court
martial would know Ne told the truth.
"Thre hours of exceedingly plain
talk followed, The general did not
our statements that the pur-
pose of the censorship was lo keep the
facts from the public, but said that
what We wanted was Ia have the peo-
pie stirred up and make sensations for
the papers. We told him that there
had never been any subject furnishing
more good material for sensations than
.he war, and that ho should be exceed
ngly grateful 10 the papers Tor handling
!, 80 tempentely
"ln that connection We reminded ,
him that the stories at looting IA sol-
liers letters home had been little, il any
Exaggerated, Davis aud Bass told him
hey had personally seen our soldiers
layonoting the wounded, and NJ !
minded him that the cutting OH Of the
'ars OF two American soldiers at nas- ,
narinas had been morely retaliation
or similar mutlations OF dead filimnos
" the Americans. No one could pos.
'osibly tell stronger stories OF the loot. q
ng, blackmsiling by our soldiers than
'us has told, although he charges IL all
D the volunteers. A.,
We told him that he had rclrainel
'om sending these things and others ot
milar nature because We did not wish q
make sensations. We told him that n
,e censorship. was purely Tor the pur' a
lse Of giving the impression at home
iat everything Was lovely here, other y
lee he would suppress the local papers "
hich print all sorts OF clippings inom q
o American pApers d nonncing the D,
and which keep the M
elny posted on the position OF every ,
mpany la our army and even give adj y"
noe notice Of intended movements. a.
Dealing with the specidoations, No ~
4 that the hospital officers reiusad 10 M