The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-15

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the volunteers are making a great mis-
take and am at a loss to understand
their action. Not only Portland, but
the entire state will probably re-
sent their action. All will be disap-
pointed
after all, it's rather a pity that the
Oregon soldiers were not carried direct
to their own state. Respecting Oregon
| and Washington, the conditions are
! different than those that obtain with
| regard to other states. They are coast
states-they could receive their return
| ing soldiers without the aid of any in
tervening port. Nobody can blame the
soldiers; they may or may not regret
their action, although one of Oregon's
| federal senators predicts that they
probably will. Their chief wish was
to be mustered out and, in view of the
long service they have so honorably
rendered, it is easy to believe that, to
their notion, any port is good enough
for that ceremony, the first port pre-
ferred.
OF greater significance to the large
public is the testimony of the Oregon
boys, on their arrival in their native
land. They will hardly be accused of
talking treason" although what some
of them are quoted as saying would be
promptly set down under that title by
several of the newspapers in this coun-
try-they are not many in number
which, confusing the administration
with the country, are insisting that
whatever the administration does
must get hearty praise if possible or
gingerly approval, even if what is done
is manifesty wrong. The testimony
of the veterans Is that "at least fifty
thousand more troops are needed"
The press dispatch sent to the nation
yesterday morning, in expression of
what an impartial news service gath
cred at San Francisco, says: From
Brigadier General Summers down. all
the Oregon men talk freely regarding
conditions on the island of Luzon
and the necessity for a much larger
army"
There is no longer any variance OF
opinion on that score in this country.
This testimony is in accord with that
which the Standard printed weeks ago.
in extracts from letters sent from
Manila by members of the Montana
regiment-the public criticism since
March and April has been that the ad-
at Washington refused to
recognize this need; at any rate, the
official assurances Were that no rein
We're needed at Manila, that
General Otis had not asked them and
that, on the information in possession
of the administration, the troops then
in service would close the war in a
few days. In fact, peace commission
ers were sent, all equipped to wind the
war up. The summing-up in the asso-
press dispatch printed yesterday
morning is in these words:
Taken as a whole the regiment was of
the opinion that the whole Philippine
group was not worth the price being paid
for them. Scores of the rank and fiie |
stated that ever since the declaring of |
peace with Spain the volunteers in Manila |
had felt that their part was over and that |
they ought to be sent home at once. None |
of them seemed to care to talk of the |
commercial benefits to accrue to this |
from retaining the islands. Seem |
ingly they had not given that side of the |
question a thought. They had tired of |
the lighting job when peace was finally |
declared and were rejoiced to be at home |
once more and they say that the other |
volunteers felt the same way they do in |
the matter
If this talk were the work Of the
special correspondent of this or that |
newspaper, it might be deemed guilty |
Of local coloring. 1t is general press
dispatch; 1T should be accepted in the
proper spirit. Its testimony surely will
not be taken as partisan talk or as
the speculatons of men who do not
know what they are talking about
it is not heartily welcome
talk; nevertheless, the public will ac-
cept it as trustworthy confirmation of
reports respecting the real conditions
in the Philippines.
This country is not divided in senti-
ment as to the essential factors in
the Philippine situation. We are COM
mitted to a certain incident in foreign
policy and, for all that is in evidence
up to now, we've simply got to put 1t
through. We have a good deal bigger
fight on hand than the authorities in
tried to persuade the coun-
try it really is. Too tardily the admin
set out to take candid meas
urements of the situation; and right |
now the stubborn fact is that President |
must enlarge his present !
plans before he meets the demand |
under which, as surely as he lives till |
next autumn, the Philippine situation |
will place him.
Speaking of figures of speech, there |
q with ha I'd |