Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1899-07-28
ANOTHER DEMAND MADE.
Governor Lee Asks an EarIies Reply
Than Was Made to His First
Letter, and One More
Reliable.

Ltlltsy dl'u Uiie Mult
Reliable.
McKlNLEY'S DECEPTION EXPOSED.
In view Of the recent developments
with regard to the situation in the
Philippines the following letter which
was sent the president by Governor
Lee more than month ago, has just
been made public:
Pierre, S. D., June 16, 1899.
His Excellency, William Mckinley,
President Of the United States, Wash
ington, D. G. Sir: On the 10th Of
April, 1899, I addressed you requesting
the return to their homes the members
OF the First South Dakota Volunteer
Infantry. At that time I stated that
their term OF enlistment, which was
fprthe Spanish war, had been con-
Guided by the ratification of the treaty
Of peace between the United States and
the Kingdom Of Spain, and that the
volunteers, who enlisted for the war
with Spain, having faithfully served
their country with distinction to them
selves, their state and honor to the
nation, We're entitled, under the laws of
the country and the rules Of justice and
equity, to be relieved from their trying
and necessarily hazardous life and Civ
en- an opportunity to return to their
home and friends.
Since that time these soldiers have
been ordered into battle on several oc-
casions; some OF them have lost their
lives, others have been wounded and
still others have broken down under
the rigors of the climate and excessive
labor. Without stopping to properly
characterize the CONSUMPTION Of these
soldiers in this manner, I desire to call
your further attention to the letter
which received through the adjutant
general on May 6, 1899, nearly month
after ! had written to you concerning
the return Of the volunteers, in which
the distinct promise is made that our
troops would be ordered to return to
America to be mustered out by the
middle of June and not later than the
1st Of July.
The fujfllment Of this promise was
made contingent upon transportation
facilities Am I safe in assuming that
this promise will be fulfilled? Since the
10th of April not less than eighteen
transports have left Manila, some Of
them carrying but a few men, and 9th
ers carrying no soldiers to speak of at
all. Can the volunteers who have serv-
ed their country under such trying cir
cumstances, who have done their duty
when no legal or moral obligation
would have dictated that they perform
the service, rest in the assurance that
they will now be sent home and given
the rest which they have so richly earn
ed? Can the parents and friends Of
these men rest with the same assurance,
or are they to be disappointed in the
future as they have been in the past?
am in receipt of a late report from
the surgeon of the regiment in which
he states that but 400 men in the or
ganization are fit for duty. This was
on the 9th Of April, since which time
much arduous service has been expert
enced by the men. and the presumption
ia that a much less number are now fit
for service.
I feel very strongly the injustice
which has been practiced upon these
men and sincerely doubt the propriety
Of great government exercising bad
faith with its volunteers, the result of
which will be that it may be more diff
ficulr in the future to secure volunteer
soldiers, who in this war, as in others,
have shown that they are superior SOL
diers, deserving the highest considera-
ton.
It is not pleasant matter to be com
PEELED to complain Of the chief officer
CT the government, but the impulse of
duty is stronger than the amenities of
official life; and while the president
is entitled to the confidence and sup
port of the people in all good works,
the people will not fail to remember
that he is still their servant.
was in hopes there would be no
further necessity Of writing regarding
the return of the South Dakota volun-
teers, they having been ordered back
to Manila I supposed for the purpose
of being returned home at once, but
after reading the following article
which appears in the press of the 18th
I am again lead to believe that the
promises recently made are no more to
be relied upon than those made in the
past.
Washington, D. c., June IA, 1902
Hon. R. F. Pettigrew, Sioux Falls, S.
D.: Your telegram received. First