Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-07-28
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,,,,,o5 70 President Expresses Qualification al His are
Oaw" of The Smith Coust-Afarfal Findings - Suggest
THAT Investigation Should MOI Stop Here-Secy. Root
C,yrelp Scored-Bsue Taken WIN Mr. RooSeUeh.

other duties Of his position was so COM
plete that such trivial Incidents failed
10 attract his motive. Such finding Is
certainly suggestive.
Finally every severity known to
the state Of war, practices which have
excited the special reprobaton of the
American people when reported as fea-
lures Of the hostilities in Cuba, under
Spanish regime, or in South Africa
curing the Boer war, have been of UNI
disputed occurrence in the Philippines.
From the early beginning Of opera
lions there II has been the practice, II
not actually the order, TO kill those
wounded In conflict
I'm like manner, as respects conoen-
.ration camps These as a feature In
recent Spanish and South African
operations excited In us as u people
the deepest indignation, combined with
the most profound sympathy for those
thus numerically dealt with. When
resorted to by our officials in the
Philippines these camps are represent
ed as a species OF recreation grounds,
In which the inhabtant OF large dis
tricts rejoiced to be drawn, and from
which they departed with sorrow. Re
hand. refer, give Of them accounts not
essentially different from the accounts
received Of similar camps and estab-
iishments elsewhere"
ROOT QUOTED FROM.
The letter quotes a communication
TO the senate by Secy. Root on Feb. IA,
In which Mr. Root says:
"The war In the Philippines has been
conducted by the American army with
scrupuous regard for the laws Of civil
lied warfare, with careful and genuine
consideration for the prisoner and the
non -combatants, with self-restraint
and with humanity never surpassed, If
ever equalled, in any connict-worthy
only Of praise and rejecting credit up
on the American people
"These words" continues the letter,
of sweeping commentator and un-
qualified endorsement were written by
the honorable secretary when all the
essential facts since brought to light
were within his official cOgnlzance.
You have given public assurance that
the secretary Is more DESTROYS than
yourself, II possible, TO probe to the
bottom every responsible allegation OF
outrage and torture, to the end that
nothing be concealed and no man be
for any reason favored or shielded.
The draft on our Credulity thus pre-
scented Is large, but we accept your as
surance.
Meanwhile, permit US to point out
that such very sweeping and somewhat
uncalled for commentator and approx
al, so far as we are advised, altogether
unprecedented In character coming d.
rectly, and in the mild state of active
operation from the fountain head OF
military authority, Is scarcely calcu-
lated to keep a moral cheek over acts
OF an improper character by subordin-
ates.' 1t is charitable TO assume that
the pressure of official business at the
time Of the communication referred 10
was such that the secretary failed 10
recall what correspondence had been
brought to his notice, or fully TO advise
himself as To what the files Of his de-
partment mign. have to disclose.
"Such are certain Of the conclusions
reached by us from as careful study ny
has been In our power 70 make or lacls
thus far procuraDle. We have endeav-
ored 10 supplement and perfect the evil
dence, but our efforts TO that end have
encountred obstructive emoarrass-
ments.
1.-THE allegations we make are grave;
the condition OF affairs we describe seri-
GUS AS a national record II is discred-
table. The good name Of the country
Is implicated, as also Is the profession
al character of officers OF the army,
some OF them retired many still In high
command. We stand ready to cooper
ate directly and In utmost good faith to
the end that all offenders may be
brought to justice and the guilty pun
ished. In this communication we have
made reference. the personal nppllca-
ton ~ which Is oh nous AMI of record.
70 those thus referred to courts OF NIL
itary inquiry are op3n; aad. II demand
ed, would doubtless be at once accord
ed Before such courts, If once con-
ycued. we will hold ourselves prepared
TO substantlate any or all charges here
| advanced,
TAKE ISSUE WITH PRESIDENT.
1--WE find ourselves, though with deep
| regret, compelled TO lake Issue with you
or ono important order
in your review OF July IA you say:
Almost universally the higher officers
have so borne themselves as to supply
the necessary check over acts OF an i'm
proper character by their subordinates.
We, on the contrary, have found our
selves impelled to the belief that the
acts referred 10 were far more general
the decentralization mOrally-pervasive
We hold ourselves ready TO direct your
attention 10 concrete cases, In the inves-
| tigation of which we would demon
strate the following criminal acts con-
trary to all recognized rules and usages
| Of war, on the part of the officers and
soldier OF the United States,
/. Kidnapping and murder, under cir
cumsiances Of aggravated brutality
2. Robbery.
g. Torture Of both men and women,
| aud rape Of the latter.
g. Tie infection of death On other
rartles on IT, strergfn or evidence
e'icl;ed through torture.