Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-02-02
The Verdict in Gen. Eagan's Case.


The conviction of Gen. Eagan. commits
sary general of subsistence. by court mar
tial. on the charge Of conduct
unbecoming an officer and a gen.
tleman and of conduct to the
prejudice of good order and discipline
in the army could not well be avoided.
The language on which the charges were
based was not only made deliberately
buG they were reduced to writing as a
part of Eagan's testimony before the war
investigation commission and could rot
easily be wiped out. His counsel made
tho most of the fact that the President
had granted immunity to witnesses be-
fore the investigation commission as well
as of the testimony introduced tending to
show that Eagan was not in a response
BILE condition of mind when the objection
able language with reference to Gen.
Miles was used. 1t is not supposable,
however, that Preside mt MCKINLEY intend
cd to authorize the commital of military
offenses by witnesses before the tribunal
constituted by him for the investigation
of the conduct of the war, and Eagan
Will oul VI llo way biIh a pCSOIih tiiS
submitting of testimony calculated to dis
prove the charges made against his de-
partment by Gen. Miles.
The finding of the court is accompanied
by a recommendation from the court for
the exercise of executive clemency, and
it is probable that this recommendation
resulted in part from the furnishing of
evidence tending to show that Gen. Eagan
was laboring under severe mental strain
when he. committed the o~ffenses of which
he has been found guilty. The President
can exercise ciemency in the case, if he
so desires; and in view of the fact that
Eagan was in a sense the military pro-
tege of Secretary Alger, il is not impos-
sible that he will take advantage of this
right. Gen. Eagan's friends will urge
that his punishment be confined to re-
lieving him from the duties of commisslry
general of subsistence, and to a detail to
garrison duty instead of putting upon him
the disgrace of dismissal from the army,
1t is not impossible that the adnlinistra-
ton may be constrained in the light OF
recent developments in Connection with the
A'o ~ y -
ment to take no step calculated to relieve
him from the burden of responsibility
which rests upon i'm. 1t is now charged
that Eagan has been in close communica-
ton with a representative of the beet
trust, which has been seeking to aid ir
screening him from punishment and thus
indirectly protecting its own interests. II
this is the case, the administration car
not afford TO appear to assume any Of the
responsibility for the scandalous state o.
affairs which seem TO have existed. on
the contrary it will be the duty. if not the
privilege, of the President and his advis'
ers to do everything in their power tc
ferret out the offenders and bring then
to prompt and vigorous justice.
The maintenance of discipline in thu
army is a matter of the highest impor,
Eagan is not alone in having lone alto
gether too much talking; and tho chic.
thing SO far as the public is concerned 1;
the establishing of the responsibility fol-
furnishing our brave soldiers with mea
unfit to eat. This is in reality the chic
question at issue between Miles ant
Eagan. 1t may injure Our meat packer
commercially to have the full facts in III
case brought out. but it is very desirable
thai the government take such action a
shall make it impossible forpackers TO IN
load upon the war department meat prod
ucts that would surely produce ill-healtl
among our soldiers.
This Is the only overwhelming issu
!, Miles and Eagan. and no action that tn
= administration may take in connection
{ with the carrying out of the sentence q
3 the Eagan court martial will blind IN
r people to tho true situation. 1t snay b
3 found upon further investigation tina
, Eagan's disturbed mental condition, ad
, duced in his defence. was in reality tn
4 result Of fear that the charges by Ger
/, Miles would result in disclosing a scandal
= Gus condition of affairs in the department
of subsistence as regards meat contracts
and If this should be found upon invest
, cation to be the case every guilty ma
Y should be punished to the fun limit al
n lowed by law. Now that Eagan's dirt
: mouth his besn disinfected. let the clean
ing rays of publicity be turned upon tn
meat scandals In Connection with the COT
duct OF our war with Spain.
!. DIR. BULLS COUGH SYRUP TIA