The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-27
DEFENDED.
Presidents Course in
the War.
DEBATE IN HOUSE
Mr.. Grosvenor Speaks on
the Army Bill.

Washington, Jan. 26.-The third day
of the debate upons the bill for the re-
organization and increase of the regu-
lar army passed without notable Incl
dents. Its feature vas an hour speech
by Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio, whose ut
teranceS, rightly or wrongly, are fire.
quently supposed to reflect the views
of the president. Mr. Grosvenor de-
clared most emphatically that the pres
emit situation in the Philippines was
due to the open opposition in this coun-
try to ratification Of the peace treaty.
He announced that the future of the
islands was a matter for congress to
decide and that for the president TO
announce a policy would be foI him
to usurp the authority or congress. Tie
friends of the bill continue to express
great confidence in the passage Of the
bill, but they admit that some import
ant notifications may DE made. The
advocates Of a general stan detailed
from the line, may be successful, and
the size of infantry companies may be
reduced There were a numberao of other
speeches made during the debate.
Mr.. Marsh Of Illinois, a member of
the committee, was the first speaker
on the army bill today. He said he
heartily favored the reorganization and
enlargement of the army. He opposed
the proposition to increase the size of
the infantry company to ID men. The
officers who had advocated larger COM
panies before the military committee,
he said, were staff officers. The line
officers had not been heard.
The real purpose in nroyi ling for
these large companies Mr., Iarsh de-
clared, was to protect the 9rga auctions
and the officers in the case the number
of enlisted men was largely reduced
in the future. If the army Eor4 re-
duced 10000, for instance, they could
be taken from the infantry companies,
reducing their size - 50 without dis
turbing the officers, that was the milk
in the cocoanut. At present staff offi-
GERS were appointed from the line by
the president and remained in the staff
permanently He should. he said, Of
fer an amendment providing that staff
officers should be detailed from the
line for four years duty. They
should then return to the line
and be ineligible for staff duty
again until they had served four years
in the line. Mr. Marsh was in favor of
annexation of the Philippines whether
the natives were willing or not.
Mr.. Grosvenor (rep.) of Ohio said he
would approach with due solemnty the
measure fraught with such far-reach-
ing consequences He should aim sim
plv to point out his own position dis
tinctly, disclaiming that he spoke for
any one else.
He did NOT vOn6pr tbarp wide.
ly distinct antipodal difference upon the
question said to be involved in this bill.
Those who imagined it threatened an
assault upon their liberties naturally
opposed IT vigorously. Despite this al
legged horror at the prospect Of militar-
ism, but twice in the history of the
country had the regular army been
used save in war. The idea that the
army might be invoked to subvert our
liberties was a man of straw which gem
tlemen set up. 1t was a Islander on the
American people.
Mr. GroSVenoer commended that the
purp Use of the administration had new
err deviated from the time the declara-
ton of war was adopted with the alb
surd provision in it which no one here
would support now.
docs the gentlemen mean the Teller
provision as the absurd provision in
LIE ueCldIdllOU Vi WAT. asked I,
Dinsmore.
II mean the provision that the peo-
pie of Cuba were, and of right ought
to be free and indel endent," said Mr..
Grosvenor. Mr.. Grosvenor declared
that the foundation of all our trouble
originated May /, 1898. He mentioned
the desultorX discussion In the press of
Admiral Dewey as the democratic can
didate for the presidency in 1900. And
yet, he said it was Dewey who had got
the country into all this trouble. At
that time, he continued, there was not
a thought Of the Philippines; there was
not one on this floor who knew within
a thousand how many islands were in
the archipelago.
AT that time, when we had no thought
of the Philippines, Dewey wa instruc-
ted to find the Spanish fleet and destroy
or capture 1t. The most brilliant page
in our history was the answer that
splendid officer and his men gave to
those instructions. But when he had
executed his orders he found himself
poWerless to get out of Manila bay.
He spoke feellngly of the president
dlfncult task during the 100 days of war
ana defied anyone to show that he had
Iailed In any duty that he might have
discharged.
Arter the protocol was signed, Mr.
IlosVenor SAID the president had sent
10 Farls peace commission which fully
ana grandly represented the best type
OF American manhood What had that
commission done which il should not
nave done? The president had been
crltfclsed for not informing congress OF
MS ultimate purpose regarding the Phil.
lppines The president had never
ssught ana never would seek to usurr
We authority of congress. The future
M the Islands was matter for. con.
gress to decide No-
The blood of those who night he
sacrificed in the Philippines now he
charged, would be upon the heads Of
those WHO opposed the presidents nolj.
cy. The president had nobly discb argad
his duty when he found himself nv Ihe
accident OF war in possession of The
Philippines. VI Tue
IF we were In possession of the Phil
ippines,' asked Mr.. Terry (dem.1 Of A.
kansas, why should we nav snair
$20000,0 900 for them?" 'p0'i'
Why, let me ask you" resnondod
Mr.. Grosvenor, did I'VE give To Mexicc
$15000,000 when she lay crushed rnde,
our power?'
Answer my question"
MY question answers yours
Proceeding, Mr.. Grosvenor cNaread
that the, present strained relations be.
tween the American armies and the IN.
surgents In the Philippines was due to
the moral support they were getting IN
this country. HI described how Ar,iin-