The Washington times., 1902-05-21


sion.-
The week promises to be an interesting
one. Senator Spooner's speech is expect
ed TO be one of the events of the debate
He Will probably talk before the end o.
the week. though he said yesterday tina,
he had not decided when.
Senator Hoar expects to deliver ar
exhaustive speech tomorrow morning
Senator Wellington will probably talk to-
day and Senator Patterson expects to
deliver speech before the end OF the
week.
A Difference of Opinion.
TIE Republicans talk confidently of a
vote being reached early next week. but
the Democrats, some of them at least
say that IT will probably be nearer Sat
srday than Monday before the end is
reached. -.t
Senator Bacon was the first speaker yes
terday. He was more conservative than
many OF his Democratic colleagues have
been. taking the view that while the cru
elites and barbarities in the Philippines
arc fndisputable, they should not be made
to brand the entire army or any consider
able part of it.
He paid tribute to the bravery honesty.
and patriotism OF Governor Taft and Gen.
eral Chaffee, and said that he did not be-
ileve that either of these men was respon-
sible for tie tortures or other cruelties
practiced in the course Of the war.
He urged that the general orders which
he said have sanctioned cruelties are an
frrefutable argument against the holding
OF the Philippines as colony.
Exploitation in the Islands.
He called attention to the fact that there
was already civil government established
in the Philippine Islands under the war
power; that the only important distinction
between. that government and the one pro-
posed in the bill was that under the Spoon
er law there could be no exploitation of
the islands. while under the pending bill
unlimited exploitation could take place.
Why. then. he asked, should there be
such urgency fer the passage of the pend
ing measure. An examination of the bill
he said, would show that a corporation es-
tab;ished under it could get million
acres of land just as easily as it could get
five thousand acres. and he spoke of that
fact az an ''enormity.''
Mr.. Lodge, Chairman Of the Philippines
Committee. contradcted that statement, |
and referred the Senator from Georgia to |
section az of the bill. where ownership of 1
land is restricted to five thousand acres.
Mr.. Pacon replied that the restriction |
was confined to corporations engaged in |
agriculture.
Corporations Limited to Needs.
''And all other corporations said Mr. |
Lodge. "are limited to the lands needed for !
their purposes -
Mr. Bacon insisted upon the correctness |
OF his position.
Passing to the question OF reconcen-
trado camps in the Philippine Islands, |
Mr.. Bacon read from the letter of an |
army officer. a West Pointer, he said, TO /
q friend describing a camp. where 1T
rained continuously in a way that would
make Noah marvel" where smallpox I
ragged; where mosquitoes worked in re-
lays day and night" and which looked
like some suburb of hell"
The responsibility. Mr.. Bacon said for
camps was far greater than
that for the water cure or any other tor
ture He characterized reconcentrado
camps as things of unparalleled and I'M
mftigated barbarity. and he asked whether
the people of the United States were |
ready and willing to continue a policy
which committed them not only 10 the
practice. but which demanded of them the
qualification OF the reconcentrado policy
with all its horrors.
The domination of inferior races by a
civilized race. he argued. was always
maintained and could be maintained only
through blood and the continual shedding
Of blood. The history OF the British ma
Hon showed that. There might be some
excuse for the British because they were
uhut IN IN Q little island, but there was |
no such excuse for the people OF the
United States.
b. America Blood Guilty.
eff" said be- I'VE are to endeayor TO | ,
hold Inferior races against their will 1t
nay be necessary for the American peo-
lie to hold up their hands daily and TO |
-epeat the prayer of David to be deliver
ID from blood guiltiness.' !
In discussing General Chafee's respon I
,fbility for the RECOMMENDATION policy. Mr. {
Bacon eulogized the character of that Of '
icer. and expressed his regret that the
General had been placed in position 1
yhere he either had TO resort TO that poll
cy or admit that his attempt TO subju- 4
VI l
Mr.. Bacon expressed the hope that the Il
enste and House of Representatives a
rouid see to IT that the full truth as 20 ! h
he condition Of things in the islands shall | {
q known to the people in order that they
,ay guide themselves Alright The way q
4 do that, he affirmed, was TO have a S
on pressional committee visit the islands s.
o as TO get complete understanding OF b.
he situation there, and he trusted that a
uch 6 committee would be provided o
Having spoken for three hours and a h
AFT. Mr.. Bacon suspended his argument, p
wing he would conclude it today.
Defends RECOMMENDATION Policy. :,
ar. Foraker fRep.. Ohio defended Cen Al
raj Bell for his reconciliation order
was wise and proper order for him to =,
ale under the circumstances, he said, Il
I'd its object was solely TO protect friend
Fiiipinos from assassination at the
lnds Of the insurgents. He denied tina.
c RECOMMENDATION camps in the Philip In
ne Islands could be compared with those
tablfshed by General Weyler in Cuba, a =,
scription of which be read to show their ~
rrors. =
Mr.. Foraker asserted that every care ~
Itch humanity and mercy could suggest Va
d been exercised toward the Filipinos -,
the RECOMMENDATION camps; and he read
m an oficial report stating that these s
nps were a credit to the United States g.,
ny and that their proper name would -
camps Of instruction and sanitation" ant
hey had. however. he said. become un- ma
essary and had been all abolished on dea