The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-02
81 hONDUHHG y UVHDcHLuI
It Proved Only a Toy
Affair After All.
The Threatened Disclosures Made
Yesterday.
Charge Unfair Treat
ment of Gen. Miles.
Most OF the Statements Have
Already Been Published.

Boston, November I.-Olo Faneuil han
was crowded to the doors tonight to hear
the startling disclosures which 9eoras E.
Washburn, president of the Bryan club of
Massachusetts had promised to make and
which at meeting of the club last week
he said would prove veritable bombshell
TO tho Republican party The disclosures
proved series Of charges contained in
letters from someone in Washington,
VIII ose identity was guaranteed on Mr..
Washburn's word that the administration
had not used Ge neral Miles Justly during
the Spanish war, more especially during
the campaign in Cuba and Porto Rioo.
The rally was enthusiastic but no espec-
isl demonstration greeted the letters.
Much OF the facts in them apparently
bave been given publicity during the dis
oassions which followed the close Of the
war.
President Washburn was first intro
ducsd amid great uproar OF applause.
The documents which hs read were
eleven In number, including his own
letters addressed Co some one In Wash
ington. The identity Of the correspondent
was not given out for the reason, the
speaker said, that permission had not
besn as yet granted. Three OF the doou-
ments were drafts OF prooiamations nd
dressed to the people OF Porto R!co,
under date Of Guanica, July 25 and ",
1893, one being General Miles original
draft, another being an alleged perverted
draft by staff officer over General
Miles signature which, 1t is alleged,
would have made General Miles liable to
court martial, ana the third, which was
finally promulgated after General Miles
had Intercepted the second draft.
Mfr. Washburn's first letter, dated Oc-
tober 10, 1900, asked Tor definite iurorma-
ton as to a rumor which had reached
him that the administration had tried
to forestan General Miles during his
Porto kican campaign. The Washington
correspondent letter of O:tober ii,
stated that printed copy of correspond
ence enclosed would serve to indicate
ito you, my relation to the Porto Rican
campaign" What that relation was did
not appear in the letter. Mr.. Washburn
acknowledged this favor on the 10Th and
asked for more specific facts on the
alleged action OF the War Department
to "forestali General Miles,"
The Washington reply on the 18th, re-
viewed General Miles military career In
the civil war, and his relations with the
President at the opening OF the Spanish
WAR. Then followed an account Of Gen.
eral Miles visit to the Florida military
camps, his trip to Cuba when General
Snafter was before Santiago and then a
review OF the difficulties attending the
generals efforts TO get his Porto Rican
ex pedition In motion.
The letter laid stress on alleged favor
itism in the promotion Of officers on duty
at Washington, and the alleged endeavor
to hamper General Miles at every stage
of the military operations. the direct
charges being that certain officers Ia, be-
half OF the War Department. were playing
false to General Miles.
Mr.. Washburn's reply to this letter was
written two days later and dealt evident
ly with the political bearing of the ad-
ministration's alleged attitude towards
General Miles. Five days later another
letter came from Washington to Mr..
Washburn adding more details to General
Miles campaign In Porto Rico, repeating
extracts from orders from Washington to
the General and TO Rear Admiral Samp-
son, for the latter to cooperate, ana con
oludeu with expression of opinion as TO
what the intent OF the administration
was in Its dealings with General Miles,
The point sought to have been made In
this letter was the sudden change In the
relations between Miles and Sampson the
allegation being that the latter had orders
TO obstruet the former wherever IL was
possible. After reading the letters, MIR.
Washburn stated that he challenged the
Washington authorities to refuts the
eh argos.
Among the other speakers were Hon.
George s. Boutwell,, Frank b. Sanborn,
Mr.. Phillip Il. Nioksrson, secretary OF
the club and Rev. Park K. Bradford OF
Lowell.