The sun., 1900-10-23
BRYAN'S ARMY ISSUE
HIS MISREPRESENTATION DISPOSED
OF BY THE OFFICIAL RECORDS.

OF BY THE OFFICIAL RECORDS.
militarism n Deceptive Pretense-Its
Falsehood Exposed by n Plain
Statement of the Facts In the Case.
Is Mr.. Bryan trying to deceive the
public with his cry of militarism and a
large standing army?
He asserts over and over again that
the president and the Republican con-
gress increased the army to 100000
men when no arm was raised against
the nation anywhere in the world"
and by his tall, of the "large standing
army" and the dangers Of militarism
e d, evidently seeks
E& lieve that the in
r.. :. permanent one
~ O. Drought about eX-
g~. '~'a' ssmblican party.
Here are TIE facts as shown by the
official records. The act which in
creased the army at the beginning Of
the war with Spain provided that the
army should be restored to its former
size (2T,Occy AT the termination of that
war. AS consequence whatever addi-
tional force was necessary by reason
of the threatening conditions in the
Philippines after the termination of
the war with Spain had to be provided
by subsequent act.
History of the Case.
Admiral Dewey destroyed the Span
ish fleet in front of Manila on May /,
1898; Aguinaldo arrived at Manila on
May 10; on May "a he issued a procla-
nation announcing the establishment
of dictatorial government with him
self as dictator and DEGREES for carry
ing on a military government ana on
July proclaimed himself president
On July 20 General Merritt arrived and
took command Of the American forces
which had arrived during that month,
and on July 70 admiral Dewey tele-
graphed the president: situation most
critical ut Manila. Mcrritt's most
difficult problem Viii be how to deal
with insurgents under Aslinaldo, who
have become aggressive ana evcn
threatening toward our a11uy"
ON Aug. IL the American troops at
tackled Manila. but Aguinaldo's forces
failed to cooperate except to demand
after the action had ended that the
churches, tie Palace Of Malcanan, part
of the money taken frcm the Spaniards
and the arms Of the Spanish soldiers
he turned over TO them and they be
permitted to loot the city. These de-
mands We're refused, and during the
months which followed, as shown By
the report of the Philippine commits
sion, "the feeling between the Ameri-
cans and insurgents grew worse and
worse day by day, and all manner OF
abuses were INDUCED in by the insur-
gent troops" Meantime the "E'ilipino
congress" was assembled at Malolos,
and Aguinaldo removed to that place.
Organizations intended to provoke bit
terness toward the Americans and from
which local militia could be recruited
TO aid in the attack upon them were es,
tablished in Manila aud vicinity, and
on Sept. 2l. lSlS, a decree passed tie
Filipino congress imposing military
service on every male over IS years OF
dS'f N llllt III tA''lN N'tIlli-t AtflUlN \
ana blacksmith SIop Implements oi
war were being manufactured, evident
ly for use in hostilities.
Democrats Favored Army Bill.
Al Of these facts wore Known 10 I'll,
presidcnt,aad lti uat surprising, tAere
fore, thai lie founl ii necessary wheI
he sent his message ~ congress on Dec
5, 1S9S to G-! 4 lcnlpp,ary Increase il
the army, Wg y Ia ain, saying, "Thcr
can be no Sion ihat at Ills tim
"rl u. nc time III the fl
. 1Cs' viii lie hone to
"1 a. necessities Of I'll
1Jt. ult Of this recon
~ as passed ia til
20, authorizing tn
eniargcmcid tile army 10 10000
men. This WAS referred to the senat
committee, which included such Demo
cratic members as Senators Cockrell Q
Missouri, Mitchell of Wisconsin. Pettu
of Alabama and pasco of Florida, an
on Feb. 24 that committee unanimous
ly reported substitute bll authori
ing the president ito maintain the re,
ular army at n strength of not exceed
ing G5,000 enlisted men and raise
force of not more than $4,000 volul
tcers, provided that such increased rei
ular and volunteer force shall continu
in service only during the necessit
therefor and no later than July /. 1901
On this bill Senator Cockrell, wi
was Democrat long before Mr.. Brya
was born, said This measure Iii
been examined very carefully. ana
want 10 say that ndorse it, ndor
it hccausc | believe it right ana in
and proper and necessary When l@l
comes the army viii revert to what
provided for III the pending bill wit
OUT debate o. contention. and it Will +
main MT that figure, and think that
ample and sufficient"
The Vote.
On the official vote upon the hi
Feb. 81. 1859 which Increased Il
army to 1O0,ONG, the yeas. as shown I
the official record Of congress. inclu
ed Allen Of Nebraska. Popuist; BacC
Of Georgia. Democrat; Cockrcll Of Mi
souri, Democrats; Faulkner of Nirgini