Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-02-05
Military Arrogance in Manila.

Military Arrogance in Manila.
Another inspiring example of the
workings of American military rule in
the Philippines has been reported by
cable from M anila. Gen. Macarthur
has extended his deportation system,
which up to this time has applied only
to Filipinos eXiled to Guam, and now
directs his authority to the expulsion
of an American. He has ordered the
deportation to the United States of
George T. Rice, editor of the Daily
Bulletin, marine journal. Mr.. Rice
formerly was resident of Red Wing,
Mimi, and went to the Philippines as
d member of the Minnesota volunteers.
just now he is lying in Jail waiting to
be placed aboard the transport
Pennsylvania next Monday, bound for
America.
Rice's offense was the publication of
allegations that Lieutenant-C omman-
dar Braunersreuther, captain of the
port, had charged excessive pilotage
and moorage fees, a percentage of
which he had kept for himself. His
information had been obtained from
merchants who claimed to be the in.
jured parties. This charge against
one officer of the military administra-
tion was Investigated by another mill
tary officer Of the same administers
tion-Maj. Mills, the inspector-gen-
eral-who completed exonerated the
captain of the port and indicted the
editor and the merchants, declaring
them misled by their process of fgur-
Ing. Next Rice was called to the
office of the military governor-gen-
erals military secretary and was asked
to promise that he would publish no
more such articles. He declined to
give such pledge, but insisted that
the article was truthful and took a
defiant attitude when threatened with
deportation. The military officer com.
handing the islands, or such parts of
them as are in range of American
guns, thereupon approved the findings
ana recommendations of his subordi-
mates and issued the order of deporta-
tion. Even in jail, however, Rice re-
iterateS the assertion that the charp.
es are true.
This in effect is the one-sided story
as it comes from Manila past the
Matchful eye eye and careful ruling of
the military government. 1t will he
interesting to learn what NAV be adj
ded to 1T when the other side, in the
person OF Mr.. Rice, arrives in the
United States. On the face of the
matter there appears to have been an
intolerable application Of technical
military authority. From beginning
to end of the affair the military has
been in charge, first acquitting itself
OF guilt and then approving its own
verdict and enforcing the penalty in
fiicted. The order of deportation
characterizes Rice as "a dangerous in
cendiary and menace to the military
situation. And yet the original charg-
es were directed against an officer
serving in distinctly civil function
and involved matters entirely civil in
their character. 1t is impossible to
see how his action, even admittir q
their culpability, could affect the mil
ltary situation or serve the Filipinos
now under arms in any way. Where
Was the civil government of the TAT t
commission?
1T is another evidence of the growth
of militariSm that Gen. McArthur,s
administration should dare to do such
thing without the certainty of
rebuke. 1t is another proof of the
arrogance of the army when left unro-
strained and isolated from the influ-
ence of public opinion. Gen. Mac
Arthur is treating the editor who
offends him as he would treat a
civilian whose presence was not
desired at Fort Sheridan. if he
happened to be in command Of the
military post. by expellfng him from
the grounds. But he is treating the
whole of the archipelago as military
post, which it is likely to De for NAM
years under the present regime. He
is executing the policies Of Otis, fire.
quently outlined by that general
when he was in command, whose
habit it was to call before him the
correspondents of The Record and
other papers and announce: 81 can
put you off the island if l want to. .
The 'put-you-off- island" policy is
in effect at last.
knowledge Of the facts about the
Philippines has been limited at all
times by the insolent censorship
which has forbidden the United
States the information desired. How
will the country like this method of
dealing with persons who refuse to
surrender the rights of American
citizens to the arrogant demands OF
military martinez ?-Chicago Record
Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Croker agree