The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-16
SENSATIONAL DEBATE
4fTHE SENATE OVER CONDUCT OF
III PHILIPPINE AFFAIRS.
E ADMINISTRATION ATTACKED
BY Senator Pettigrew-He Charges Re-
publican Authorities With Conduct
Ing Affairs I'm the Interest OF McKin-
and Official Documents -Suppressedin
His Interest-McKinley Responsible
for the War Hi DupIicfty.

HIS Notwithstanding Responsible
for the War His DupIicfty.
Washington, January ia spirited
and, at times, sensational debate was
precipftated in the senate today on the
Philippine question over resolutions
of inquiry.
Senator Pettigrew, of South Dakota,
attacked the administrations policy
in the Philippines and also made some
startling charges against those who
were supporting the administration.
He declared that a systematic effort
was being made to prevent accurate
information from reaching the people
of the United States and thai 1t was a
political scheme to further the candi-
dacy of Mr.. Mckinley for renomina-
tion and reelection.
Before adjournment, the senate, af-
ter prolonged debate passed the bill
comforting additional powers upon the
director of the census.
AIT the opening, the Pettigrew reso-
luton and the Lodge substitute, both
SecklHB ITOIH 1nc pT6SlueHl dll lUIOT-
nation regarding the Philippine insur-
r~ection, were laid before the senate.
Senator Lodge suggested that both be
withdrawn and the Hoar resolution
adopted as a substitute.
The resolution offered by Senator
Hoar was sweeping in its call for in
formation relating to the Philippine
instruction, but Senato Lodge sad
his desire for all information concern
inc the inSIIrraofinn WAS Cn Cr0aTr that
he proposed to offer al amendment ex-
tending its provisions. He said he
wanted information especially as TO the
effect of the encouragement the Fill
pinos received from the United States.
Senator HOa agreed with Senator
Lodge.
PETTIGREw'S ATTACK ON THE
ADMINISTRATION.
Senator Pettigrew objected. He
wanted specific information, regardless
Of whether the president wanted it
known or not. He launched into a SEN
sational attack on the administration.
He charged the government with with
holding information for political gain.
THE trouble with the imperialists,"
said Senator Pettigrew, lis that they
have COMPOUNDED the interests of the
people of the United States with the
political desires and ambitions of their
punN pICSldCll dIId ICSdAo I'LL 1AAo
his success as more important thai a
rightful treatment of the Filipinos.
The fact is, this whole business is
bound up in the presidents desire
again to be a candidate of his party
for president"
CENSORSHIP FOR POLITICAL
PURPOSES.
Senator Pettigrew discussed the CEN
Soring of dispatches from the Philip
pines. He declared that important and
significant facts had been, stricken
from news dispatches from Manila and
from official reports. A an instance
! of this work. said he, 1.-The Sulu
treaty was mangled and partly sup
pressed until after the election in
Ohio" He declared the proclamation
tissue by the president was, on the
recommendation of General Otis, al
fH&ed materially by the president be-
= Re it was published to the Philippine
Natives. AS originally drawn it was
to his mind, a fiat declaration of war
and when Aguinaldo and his leaders
came into possession of the orig1na
they so regarded it.
CONCEALMENT AND DUPLICITY
1.-The whole wretched business" de-
cIared Senator Pettigrew vehemently
was one. of concealment and duplic'
ity. intended to deceive not only thu
people of the United States, u alst
the islanders themselves"
In subStantiation of his charge tina
\ the dispatches from h Philippines
twere censored in the interests OF tn
administration, Senator Pettigrev
Suoted from a letter written by Rob
Mt NJ. Collins, Associated Press repre-
ssUtative at Manila. In this letter MI
CoNins related the substance OF an in
sariiew upon the subject of cenSorlni
dispStches which he had had wit
GenAyal Otis. Senator Pettigrew rea'
the statements OF Mr.. Collins, in whicl
he said 1T was the evident desire o
the ofScials to prevent certain infor
uoationt from reaching the people o
the limited States. When he COLLINS
had fled a dispatch containing inform
tion which he thought was proper {
send TO The United States, he had bee
informed by the censor that he ha
been instructed to cut out anythin
+bo+ might hurt the adminiStratior
S-IhseouenIy when ne had desired t
send a stor7 relating to the use of sil
Yer in the Philippines, the censor ma
told him than his instructions were I
allow nothingro pass him which woui
be helpful 10 William Jennings Brya
in the Unitsd States.
became ~perticularly sarcastic and agai
adyerted to what he termed the pres
ident's esire to succeed himseif a
eoresideet, ven though mfol
ma 1io had to be suppressed to accom-
plisS that end.
MCKINLEY RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE WAR
Senator Pettigrew declared that III
president himself really began the wa
and was responsible for it. If" sal
he. 'tthe administration had had
spark OF honor IN dealing with h F.
ipinos it would have told General Me-
rift to lay the whole truth OF h inter
lions of the government before Agu
naldo and his associates He bet1eye
This would have averted half t
trouble. The shooting by United Stat
sentrfes of the Fflfpinos that night,
February Attn, the opening of hosul
ties, was, he said, "a foul blow and v
were guilty of duplicity and treacnel
in killing those men, hat We mr.
Fba frst shot which had precipitats