Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-10-18
NOT MUCH TO IT.
The Purdy Meeting Calling nown"()
and it, Real Facts.


to do any person an injustice at any
time, and it is always willing and de-
sirous to correct any error occurring
in its columns il the same be brought
to its notice.
In order to give the exact facts con-
corning the meeting held in the Fur
dy school house on Oct. 9th, 1t has
made careful investigation and finds
the following to have been the occur
rences so far as they relate to the ad-
dress Of c. z. Rugh, the'Fusion candi-
date for county attorney.
In courtesy to Mr.. Rugh, who in
Justice to himself is entitled to have
the same given, and in correction Of
the transformation which came to
this office, they are published.
During Mr.. Rugh's talk he said he
had read in a Republican newspaper
a letter written by an American SOL
der in the Philippines in which the
soldier said he and number Of his
comrades while travelling across the
country one day came upon school,
house. They entered 1t and found
maps upon the walls. They also
found writing in poor English upon
the blackboards and upon the teach
er's desk stood a small cruciix; that
leaning against the crucitix they
found a note written in poor English
and that this note said, chow can the
American soldiers expect us to love
them SO long as they burn our houses
and drive us from their homes"
This was the only thing said by Mr..
Rugh or anyone else at this meeting
regarding the burning or destroying
Of property by American soldiers in
the Philippines.
In his speech Mr.. Rugh stated en-
phatically that he was for the Amer
lean soldiers wherever they may be.
That he wanted them taken care OF.
That he did not want any OF them to
be hurt and that he hoped they would
all be brought home in safety. And
that II it ever became necessary in
order to rescue them from danger, to
raise more men to send to that coun.
try, be was ready and willing to 60.
Mr.. Rugh further stated that while
he was for the American soldiers and
had not one word OF fault to find with
them, he did censure the present ad-
ministration for its policy regarding
the Philippines.
He then gave his reasons for oppos-
ing this policy but in no place did he
offer one word OF abuse to the SOL
diers, either volunteers or regulars.
After the speaking a general con-
versation took place among the TWEEN
ty or twenty-five people present and
C. A. Sherwood was asked by Mr..
Rugh to tell what he knew Of the
Philippines.
He said that the report Of American
troops burning villages, houses etc.
was not true but then qualified 1t by
stating that he could only speak OF
the time the goth Kansas was In the
Philippines and that the soldiers did
burn buildings afterward. He said
that while the Kansas boys were
there they burned no villages and
had orders not to do SO.
This conversation which seems to
have been a good-natured one and not
in the oense Of "calling down" or
"interruption" was the basis Of the
reports brought to this office and the
REFLECTOR regrets that 1t should
have been misled by an informant in
regard to any circumstances Of the
meeting.
In speaking Of this occurrence Mr..
Sherwood, the member Of the Twen-
tieth who was present, says: "l'have
known Mr.. c. +. Rugh for IS years
and have never heard him say, d.
rectly or indirectly, one word against
the American soldiers or any Of them
and he did not make one statement in
this meeting that was untrue or out
OF place"