Bisbee daily review., 1902-05-03
AN ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTER.


 27th of April. this paper took occasion to make a few remarks anent the order of the President enforcing the gag rule on Frederick Funston, the gallant Kansas general who served through the Philippine campaign with such a glorious record. The Review took the position that the people of the United States would like to hear from the army officers returning to the United States, the true condition of the Phil ippines, as those men had been placed in positions to know whereof they spoke. The editorial in brief was as follows:
 Officers Must Keep Mum.
 President Roosevelt has just applied a gag to the mouth of Colonel Funs- ton, because that gallant officer at a banquet saw fit to make some de rogatory remark concerning Senator Hoar of Massachusetts. It seems that the administration has adopted the policy of preventing, at all hazards, any information reaching the people of the United States, except through the spigot of the information bureau of the state department. Funston's re- marks were aimed at a senator who has fought the administrations policy in the Philippines, and no doubt were in line with the views of the Presi- dent concerning Senator Hoar, but ii an army officer is allowed to criticise anti-administration senators, then it would be a precedent for the whole army to criticise the administration of- hcers and supporters, if it chose, so It was thought best to call down the gal lant Kansan.
 The American people will wonder why an army officer should not be al lowed to express his views on public matters of great importance to his country's welfare. Because a man places himself in position to do battle in the defense or maintenance of his country is he to be made dummy the balance of his life?
 The army officers who have been n Manila and seen the conditions and studied them are much more likely to have a correct opinion about Phil ippine matters than congressman ana senators who only have the reports of the war office as sources of informa- tion. Let the officers and soldiers tell what they know. The people are anx- ious to learn the truth. Ii an officer sees 1t to criticise senators or con. cause of deplorable conditions in the Philippines. why prevent them from doing SO? They will not all agree, but by full and free speech from all oi them the people will be able to aver age . pretty correct idea Of the situa ton.
 Let Funston and Miles and all othe. military officers who have knowledge of conditions in the orient speak out freely. The people are anxious to know the truth.
 Senators and congressman often criticise army officers and sometimes Utterly fay them with invective. This ~ AA VI oPVCSA oAo ID plOpCl Wucu OC served. We say the army officer should be allowed as much freedom of speech as other people.
 When the copy of the editorial just quoted reached the office of the clerk of the district court at Tombstone that worthy who has recently been lifted up to 8 place at the republican pie counter, suddenly became imDueu with the idea that he must do some thing. Nothing in the ordinary way would suffice. It must be strenuous embellished with whiskers and cal. culated to strike terror at the soul O. the impertinent editor of the Bisbee sheet who dared to offer any criticism or give voice to any opinion not il keeping with the Wiilcox-Roosevell administration of affairs. He would write . letter. Perhaps the editor would publish it. Perhaps a markea copy would find its way to the White House. There the clerk of the dis trict court of the county Of Cochise oI the territory of Arizona would be at once raised to ace-high position. His name would be entered in the book along with other illustrious small of. nceholders, who can be depended on at any and all times on any and all questions to rush brayely into print in the defense of administration poll ciss. whether right or wrong.
 From the tone of the clerks letter it is . wonder that he did not saddle his Rough Rider charger and with fix cd bayonet come straight across the Mule mountains to exterminate the in- surgent editor at Bisbee-because we had got an idea into our head that an army ofncer. if he knows what he ts talking about, should be allowed to have his say.
 The following communication came in by special courier last evening, and immediately the doors were barred and the editor passed quietly into his sanctum there to brood over the sor rowful (?) information that the wrath of the Willcox-Roosevelt administra ton had descended upon his head. I, follows:
 TomhGtnnA. A. T., April 2s. 1902.