The age-herald., 1902-05-09
Half Has Not Been Told About Occupation of the Philippines


 Kentucky Congressman if he desired to occupy those four minutes.
 MT. Wheeler indignantly rejected Mir. Dockery's proposition, saying to him, in the presence of other members of the House, that MT. Dockery's course In the debate was an outrageous violation of the rules of the House, inasmuch as one side of a question was not given the right to control the entire time of debate upon any proposition whatever. MT Cookery retired abashed by the indignation of MT. Wheeler.
 Thereupon MT. Wheeler arose and ad- dressed the speaker, calling his attention to this gross and outrageous violation of the rules the measure of which gave to him the right to control the time of those members, or any member, opposing the bill under consideration. Even the auto- cratic speaker recognized the justice of MT. Wheeler's contention and gave him liberty to speak at length upon the bill. This Mir. Wheeler did, and his speech then made was the beginning, the origin of what is now the bitter national pro- test against the conduct of our govern ment in the Philippine islands. MT. Wheel CT sounded the note that Is now ringing in Congress, ringing in every locality in America, ringing throughout the world.
 So MT. Wheeler proved to be prophet, though In his memorable prophecy he i was without honor in the House Of Rep resentatives, of which he was member. When in the ending of the debate MT. Wheeler repeated his demand for the yeas and nays he for a moment stood alone. calling aloud to the speaker that he was proud of the distinction of being the only man in the House of Representatives to stand up In protest against measure which was absolutely certain to entail upon the United States harmful and hurtful conditions which the centuries might not wipe out AS MT. Wheeler made this declaration of defiant pride two and thirty other Democrats arose from their seats and stood with hlm Tn demanding a call of the roll
 Thus the distinction of having been first to begin a parliamentary warfare against what so many of us believe to be the warfare of the sword unjustly and un- rfghteouSly draWn DeloHSS to NePi eo0H- tative Wheeler of Kentucky.
 Again 1t Is said here, the half has not yet been told Astounding as the reVeia- tions have already been, far more astounding will be &e revelations yet to come.
 Extended reference was made in this correspondence last week to the enort of Congressman Clayton and his col leagues of the Alabama delegation in the house. and of General Morgan In the Senate to induce the President to re- tain in the Classified Civil Service the three Confederate veterans In the census office namely Col. John F. Tate of Ala bama; MT. George P. Herndon of Mis- sisslppi and MT. Benjamin Martin of Ten nessee; the terms of the Presidents re- marks to MT Clayton, and MT. Claytons rejoinder to the President, being set forth somewhat at length.
 Out of this first serious attempt to protect Confederate veterans in the civil servlce of the United States come some interesting letters. Writing from the census office, under date of May ?, Direc- tor Merriam sends this note to Congress- man Bankhead:
 My dear MT. Bankhead:
 I enclose herewith for your information, a copy of my letter of this date to Hon. Henry D. Clayton, In acknowledgement of a letter addressed to the President and signed by MT. Clayton, yourself and others, in behalf of the ex-Confederate soldiers in this offlce.'
 This letter from Director Merriam to Representative Clayton is in these terms:
 Dear MT. Clayton: The President has referred to me the letter of recent date addressed to him and signed by yourself Senator Pettus and several representa- tives In behalf of Col. John F. Tate, MT. George P Herndon and MT. Benjamin Martin, the ex-Confederate soldiers who are employed in this office, and who are not to be retained in t..e permanent office for the reason that they have passed the maximum age limit which l have adopted to govern me In making reap pointments on July l, pursuant to the recent act of Congress providing for permanent census office. The name or Captain Thomas O. Munce, which is also mentioned in your letter, was dropped from the rolls May 1.
 This communication suggests that the same sentiment which prompted the ex- ecutive order that preference be given ex-Union soldiers should apply to the ex- Confederates By referring to the Pres ident's order of January II, 1902. you will observe that 1t calls attention to the existing provisions of law giving pre- ference in appointment and retention. These laws all contain the limitation that the preference Is to be confined to sol- diers who were honorably discharged from the service of the United States, and the widows of such soldiers. There Is nothing in the order which indicates that the executive departments are to go beyond the limitations of the law in this respect.
 T am fully In accord with the generous sentiment to which you refer and were it practicable to do so l should be pleas ed to retain the employees in question. My only purpose in fixing an age limit is to secure for the permanent organiza- tion of the office the services of those who will be useful, not only in the work preparatory to the taking of the Thir- teenth census but who can aid in the work itself. This skeleton organization should. in my judgm ent, be composed or active young men and women whose use fulness will increase rather than de- teriorate as the next decennial period ap- breaches. The maximum limit must, or course, be arbitrarily fixed. and my ex- perience as director of census convinces me that the age of 45 years is a reason- able maximum. I shall waive the rule as to soldiers who have been honorably United States, and the widows of such soldiers, for the reason that the law re- quires 1t. It is desirable to limit so far