Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-10
oTIs's SUPPRESSION or NEWS.
Admission of Purpose to Save Adj
Ministration at Home.

NNeW ofK Hcldlu)
Melville r. Stone. general manager of
the Associated Press, has received let
ter from Robert NJ. Collins correspond
ent of the Associated Press In Manila
detailing the situation I'm the Philippines
which caused the publication Of the IA
nous round robin" signed by the news
paper correspondents showing how they
were compelled 10 suppress facts ara
send only such matter as General Otis
was willing 20 have appear.
in this letter, which is dated July Both,
Mr. Collins points out that the CORE
spondents submitted to the most rigo-
rous censorship under protest for a. long
time, and says:
But when General Otis came down In
the frank admission that IL was not in
tended so much 20 prevent the newspa-
pers from giving information and assist
ance TO the enemy Ohe legitimate func-
uon, and, according TO our view, the only
legitimate one Of a censorship, but to
keep the knowledge Of conditions here
rom the public at home, and when the
censor had repeatedly told us in ruling
out plain statements Of undisputed facts,
My instructions are 10 let nothing go
that can hurt the administration we
concluded that protest was Justinable."
HELD BACK BY OTIS.
a conservative review to tho effect that
every one was convinced the war could
not be ended during the rainy season,
and for some time thereafter. unless
heavy reinforcements were sent. The
censor declined 10 pass the statement,
and the correspondent went TO General
Otis.
when / went TO see him." says Mr..
Collins, che repeated the same old story
about the instruction going to pieces. and
limited so portentousy about having won
derful things up his sleeves, that almost
believed him. The other men had prac-
tically the same experience.
80, after waiting a month for the
Generals predictions TO materialize, we
decided TO send the statement we had
framed without changing il. as the con-
ditions had not changed.
THE views were the views of Lawton,
Macarthur, Funston, Wheaton, ct al, and
we could not be accused of prejudice
against the administration. The attempt
TO hold the newspapers by the throat was
SO unusual that unusual action seemed
to be justified and demanded. AS a mat
ter Of form, we took the message TO the
censor. His comment was practically
the same that he had made on my mes
sage He did not question the accu-
racy Of the statement OF conditions but
said: This is just the sort Of matter the
censorship is intended TO Suppress
THREATENED WITH COURT-MAR-
TIAL
HE, of course, took ii 70 Otis. who, IN
turn, sent the messenger with request
10 Davis Of the New York Sun, to go
and see him, doubtless thinking that as
he had treated the sun as his organ,
and its correspondents being under OBJ
legations to him for special favoTs. he
could work them to give up the plan.
Thompson said he thought Collins and
McCutcheon should so also. commit
was chOsen-Davis, McCutcheon, Bass,
and !.
when we were ushered into Otis's
room he said, with some anger;
Gentlemen, you have served an eX-
traordinary paper upon me. You accuse
me of falsehood. This constitutes con-
spiracy against the government. Will
have you tried by general court-martial
and let you choose the judges
Eve knew from experience with
threats to put you off the island that
there was nothing TO be frightened about,
and also knew that all officers who would
be on a court martial would know we told
the truth. Three hours of exceedingly
plain talk followed.
MIJTILATION OF FILIPINOS.
1--WE reminded him that the stories OF
looting in soldiers letters home had been
little, IL any exaggerated Davis ana
sass told him they had personally seen
our soldiers bayoneting the wounded, ana
l reminded him that the cutting OF ol
the ears Of two American soldiers at
Dasmarnas had been merely reclamation
for similar mutilations of dead F1llplnos
by the Americans.
eve told him that we had refrained
fhfnVS
similar nature because we did not WISH
10 make sensations"
II was pointed out 10 General OTIS thaI
while he had reported percentage oi
71-2 III, the surgeons agreed that ~ per
cent were ill., and In some regiments not
more than 10 per cent. were fit for duty
In reply the General declared the hos
pitfalls were full of well men, who were
Sinking. and should be turned out.
Recently" Mr.. Collins writes, hieu
what | thought a most inoffensive state
ment. that the businessmen VINO ha'
appeared before the commission had al
vocated the retention of the eXlsuhg sh-
yer system of currency.
"The censor said: i ought not 10 let
that go. That would be lift for Bryan.
Nv instructions are to shut off everything
tbot could hurt McKinley's administra-
zion. That is free silver.
WANTED sCHURMAN ROASTED"
.,rbe only time General Otis has given
ne any freedom was during his row with
echurman over the peace negotiations,
when. by insinuation and those attempted
Ginlonatic methods which public men
see,o 70 think newspaper men do not see
thro,,eh he was encouraging us TO roast
Schurman and take his side.
1.-The secret of the whole trouble mere Is
that the government has left small man
10 deal with the most dehcate prooIeins,
recurring broad statesmanship. hVeIg
one agrees that Otis IS honest anu Ihal
Cunts for much in a position affording
sncb chances for dishonesty, but every
ono agrees also with most remarkable
nnonimity that he has burgled AFFAIRS
from the beginning