The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-21
LEnTZ CRBhfES A SCENE
ReeriminatiOns aad Personalities
Stir the House.
The Ohio Representative Attacks
Methods in the Philippines
Charges Senator llama with Hrih-
cry i'm Securing His Eleciion-The
Late Judge Leland's Named Used.

For fully two hours yesterday afternoon
the members of the House gave them
selves up to a most bitter and personal
political discussion. Mr.. Lentz was the
centre of attack and for time he had
upon his hack so to speak, Messrs. Gros-
venor. Cannon. Mahon, and Moody
Mr.. Lentz took occasion to make most
open charges Of bribery. and corruption
against M Hanna. He also made an at
tack upon the methods of the military in
the Philippines and advocated deseT-ion
for the soldiers. He was sharply charged
with treason by Mr.. Cannon, and the dis
cussion which followed was most acri-
monious.
When the paragraph in the General De-
ficiency bill. containing the authority 10
the Secretary of War to pay $50 for the
arrest and return Of deserters. was reach
ed. Mr.. Lentz declaimed yociferously
against the character of warfare waged by
the United States forces in the Philip
pines. saying that if that were to be con-
tinued, a much larger sum than $50 would
have to be provided to stop desertion.
Barbarities unexampled in warfare had
been reported, and he had seen letter
conveying that information. II the charges
were true the brave boys should desert.
Mr. Graham challenged Mr.. LentZ to
produce the letter. as, in his belief IT
existed only in the gentleman's imag ma
ton.
Mir. Cannon said the gentleman on the
floor of the House was perfectly safe in
advising the boys who enlisted under the
tn 4
selt. But with emphasis and impress
sivelyl if he were in the Philippines and
made such a speech, he would be tried,
as he ought to be, by drumhead court
martial and shot"
Mr.. Lentz. enraged b? this. replied with
all the vigor of his voice and gesture,
asserting that be was not to be brow
beaten by talk OF drumhead court-mar
tial. He stood for Christian civiliza ion,
repeating his statement that if the
stories from the Philippines were true,
no more brutal barbarities were ever
committed-men shot down while at
work by the troops of the United s ates.
If these were true the Congress of the
United States ought TO be ashamed 10
look mankind in the face The law of
murder was not confined TO one man; if
he could not kill his fellow, neither
could 1900. coo kill men in the Philip
pines because they had the power.
la the course of his remarks Mr.. Lentz
had stated that he was a Lincoln-Jackson
Democrat. The Republicans thereupOn
began accusing both Mr.. Lent and An
drew Jackson Of being traitors and being
oppressors Of the weak. 1t was attempted
10 prove that Jackson was an advocate of
government without consent of the gov
erned and then Mr. Gaines came to The as
sistance of Mr.. Lentz with documents to
prove that Jacltson's 8 incursicn into Flor
ida was not made with the purpose Of
oppression. He said: jackson did not be-
lieve in-oppression. From the state pa
pers CT the Seventeenth Congress ! quote
his words in relation to the power he had
when in Florida: I hope no living man
such extraordinary authority And again:
L am clothed with power which no one
under a Republic ought to possess There
is much more in the same VEIN
Mr.. Gaines defence Of Jackson received
great applause from the Democratic side.
Mr. LentZ had read an article from 4
Columbus paper referring to the death OF
Charles a. Leland, judge in the Terri
tory Of New Mexico. He had been an anti
Hanna Republican in the Ohio Legisla-
ture. so Mr.. Lentz said. and afterward
voted for Mr.. Hanna for United States
Senator, and the article hinted that he
had received the appointment in conse-
quence of that act. Mr.. Lentz then launch
ed out in q general assault upon what he
termed the political corruption of the Ad-
minIst ration and leading Republicans.
Mr.. Cannon briefly replied that he did
not know the non-partisan paper involv-
ed: he did know the late Mr.. Leland.
Brave men fight the living; ghouls
descend into the tombs Of the dead he
added.
Mr.. CTosvenor later tried to reply 10
LentZ's speech. but first was taken off the
floor by an objection raised ny Mr.. Nc
Dermott and failed to secure unanimous
consent to speak, MIR. Lentz obiecting. Mr..
GrOsvenor seemed incredulous that Mr..
Lentz could maintain the objection after
having had five minutes himself without
objection. When he realized that he was
not to be permitted to speak, he shouted
over the banging of the gavel that Mr..
LentZ had made maliciously false charge
against dead man, willful falsehcod
Until the adjournment, AT o'clock. at
every opportunity members gave vent to
sharp remarks, and during that time but
few sections OF the bill were read.