The Washington times., 1902-06-22
Advocates independence
for Filipinosa and Evacua-
ton of Archipelago.
ARRAiGNS SECRETARY ROOT
Says Latter Considers Partisan In
terests Before Welfare of Country
Mr.. Mcclellan Defends the Common
Soldier-0ther Speakers.

. After devoting nearly three hours TO
:he consideration Of conference reports
and routine matters, the House yester-
day resumed general debate en- the
Philippine civil government bill. More
than one-half of the time allotted for
general discussion of the measure has
now been consumed. and about twenty
members have been heard for and against
the bill reported from the Committee
on Insular Affairs. The attendance yes
terday afternoon upon the floor was
small. and more so at the evening ses-
sion.
The features of the discussion yester-
day were the brief speech of Represent
ative Mcclellan (Dem.. y. W yesterday
afternoon. and the remarks Of Repre-
sentative Conry (Dem.. Mass) last night
Mr.. Mcclellan paid an eloquent
tribute to the army, and especially to
the boys who make up the regulars"
Those who are in authority, he said.
should be held responsible for the mis-
takes in the Philippines. and not the
soldiers, who were but the instruments
of a mistaken policy. and we're simply
obeying orders. His remarks drew
hearty applause from both sides of the
chamber.
Mr.. Conry's Maiden Speech.
At the evening session Mr.. Conry. the
popular young Democrat from Boston.
proved himself TO be enc of the best ora
tors of the House. 1t was his maiden
effort on the floor, and he acquitted him
self with credit. In a speech that was
really worthy of a larger audience. he
opposed the pending bill, and argued
that the hope of independence should be
held out 10 the Filipinos.
lie said that the cruelties practiced
by American soldiers in the Islands were
repugnant to their sense of right and
justice. and that they were simply
carrying out the orders of their super
iors. who were responsible. He charged
that Secretary Root, in conducting the
affairs of his office, looked 10 the inter-
ests of the Republican party before the
welfare of the country
Mr. Conry has a style of oratory not |
unlike that of Bourke Cochran, and he !
spoke with grace, fluency, and eloquence,
which promises to bring him recogni-
tion as one of the ablest speakers Of
the House. The discussion was partici-
pated in last night by Mr.. Palmer (Rep.,
Pal in favor of the bill, and Mr. Snod-
grass Dem., Tenn.), MIR. Green CDem.,
Pa in opposition.
In Harmony With Insular Policy.
Mr.. Reeves (Rep., Ill was the first
speaker yesterday. He announced him
self in harmony with the policy of the
Administration in the Philippine Is
lands. and in favor of indefinite reten-
tion of them Until it became evident, if
ever, that the interests of the citizens
of the United States demanded with
drawaI from the islands he should favor
it, but not before.
Opposing the bill. Mr.. Maddox CDem.,
Ga.j said that It was the purpose of
his speech to relieve God Almighty of
most, IL not all. the responsibility for
the work in the Philippines done by the
Republican party.
While the United States was fighting
old Spain on account of Cuba. he said,
the Lord was with US; but just as soon
as We got into the peace negotiations
with Spain. it seemed to him that God
dropped out of the partnership with us,
and the devil stepped in and had been
things ever since. He had tried Z
by every means necessary to grab those +
Islands. God never thrust them on US.
Accuracy of Figures Questioned.
Mr.. Maddox discussed at some length
he statement OF expenditures in the '
Philippine Islands recently made by Sec 7
'etary Root. showing a total of about t
17O, ,0OO, zoo. He criticised the accuracy c
# the Secretarys figures. He had fixed
he sum expended in 10000 at $40. 900 900. 1
Z that were true, said Mr.. Maddox, II a
vas up to the Secretary to tell what o
lad become of the other $75 .OO0, 600 OF
appropriations for the military estab-
ishment for that year.
Regarding the policy OF scuttle, Mr.
iaddox denied that he was in favor OF i
t; he did not believe the United States C
hould abandon the people OF the ISL I
nds; that might have been possible and "
roper at one time, but not now. The b
Inited States owed to the Philippines \,
that it had given to Cuba-a pacined -
ountry and stable government. Those
hings accomplished, the government
hould be turned over TO the natives and o.
hen the United States should retire n,
hat was what the minority bill pro- =,
osed to do. u
Mr.. BromweH Rep., Ohio) took a re- le
ent editorial in the Cincinnati En- .
uirer" as text for some remarks
pom differences IN the Democratic PARTY II
q matters or policy. and a discussion OF 70
be issues TO be presented in the coming rt
ampaign by that party, namely. i'm W
orialism and trusts. to
Colonial Policy Opposed. e,
Mr. Dlnsmore Dem., Ark.j followed
opposition 10 the Philippine bill. The Is
lestIon which the House was called ~
pom to answer in voting on that meas hf
re, and it could not escape from the re- fe
possibility OF evade il, was whether tho ci
nited States would grant Independence NJ
the Filipinos or hold them perma- an
emily as colonial subjects. sn
An eloquent tribute 10 the valor and
orth OF the regular soldier OF the
my was paid by Mr.. Mcclellan tDeAl..
y, amid applause from both sides M
the chamber m.
No matter who may be responsible sy
r existing conditions In the Philip
nes." he seid. there can be no differ
ice of opinion as to our duty In up as
,fding the army in the task which has ca
.en set before Il. II Is TO be de- IN
ored that the army should have be- 6c
me in any sense a political issue
le army is not. never has been and u
ID willing. never VIII be, the asset dt
anw II Iofouo.. l