New-York tribune., 1900-02-08
DEPEW EXPOSES PETTTGREW
CHARGE THAT SCHURMAN TRIED TO
BRIBE AGUINALDO SHOWN
TO BE FALSE
TO BE FALSE
LBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rn1BuSE.l

Washington. Feb. 7.-Mr. Depew came to the
front in the Senate to-day defend the charac-
| ter and reputation of President Schurman OF
| Cornell University against some mistaken inti-
| nations Of Senator Pettigrew. the eulogfst and
| apologist OF the Tagal insurrectionists- Mr..
Pettigrew had asserted on some elusive author
ity that President Schurman, the head OF the
Philippine Commission had tried TO bribe Asul-
naldo into disarrning and accepting peace MI.
| Schurman naturally wrote letter of denial. as
Admiral Dewey replied the other day to some
similar misstatements Of Mr.. Pettgrew' ana
Mr.. Depew took this decisive answer as a text
on which TO base some pointed comments on the
| South Dakota Senator's peculiar methods Of
! searching for the truth. II was Mr.. Depew's
second appearance in debate, and he acquitted
himself with all the finish Of parliamentary as
well as a forensic expert.
Mr. Depew said he had received a letter from
President Schurman with regard to the charges
Of the South Dakota Senator. which he desired
to lay before the Senate. The letter is follows
Ithaca n. Y February 3, 1900
OF The Congressional Record" that Senator
Pettsrew, speaking of myself, says; The fact
| Of the matter is that he tried to bribe the in
surgents, as near as we can ascertain and Tailed
but they would not take gold for peace
Had this preposterous statement been made
anywhere else should not have paid any
tention it, but as it has been made in the
Senate Of the United States 1 desire to say TO
you that il is absolutely without foundation
Very truly yours, J. G. SCHURMAN.
TYPICAL PETTIGREW METHODS.
Senator Depew in commenting on the mat
ter said:
At the very time this speech of the Senator
from South Dakota was being delivered Presi-
dent Schurman vas in the city assisting in the
preparation of the report Of the Philippine Com
mission. At that very hour he in confer
vxirh no da0r wi n Tf n
! iPpine question and was competent TO be sum-
moned as a witness.
Admiral Dewey, whom the Senator quoted in
support Of his charges, was also in the city at
his residence, and was most easily accessible
He might have summoned both President Schur-
man and Admiral Dewey and any statement
they made with reference to the matter would
be unquestionably accepted by the American
people as true
Instead, however, of calling them as witnesses
he reads an alleged proclamation of Aguinaldo,
translated by some unknown person without
any evidence of authenticity and published in a
New England newspaper, and then reads an in
terview purported to have been had with Presi-
dent Schurman by an unknown reporter.
Mr.. Depew referred TO the letter Of Admiral
Dewey presented by Mr.. Lodge denying the
statements of Aguinaldo, saying that both Dewey
and Schurman had absolutely denied the state
ments attributed to them. Before the state
ments Of Dewey and schurman the charges of
Mr.. Pettigrew disappeared as Aguinaldo's army
vanished before the American troops
This whole transaction said Mr.. Depew in
conclusion, lis nothing better than Aguinaldo's
government the seat of which is in Aguinaldo's
hat"
PETTIGREw REPEATS THE CHARGE
Mr. Pettigrew, who mad listened attentively 70
Mr. Depew, was on his feet in instant. In
reply he said
It is well known that this Government,
through the Philippine Commission, offered
money for the rifles of the insurgents. but no
rifles were turned in except a few that had
been captured and given to friendly Fflfpinos
by American officers in order that they might
be turned in to get the price offered for them.
1t is quite well known that the Schurman
Commission offered AguinaIdo what amounted
TO $1,000 a year If he would lay down his arms
I charge that the facts Of this question
being withheld and what information is sent TO
us Is garbled, and I charge that we attacked an
ally and made a compact with slavery.
Mr. Pettigrew thought it unfortunate for the
Administration that the whole Of Admiral
Deweys letter to Senator Lodge had been pub
lished as in it the Admiral. he said admitted
Just what he had charged.
Mr.. Hoar asked Mr.. Depew If he had under
stood that President Schurrnan did not regard
Aguinaldo honest. He read address Of
President Schurman in which he had said that
Aguinaldo honest
Mr.. Depew replied that he had further in
formation than contained in President
Schurman's letter.