The Lamar register., 1902-07-30
ANTI-lMPERIALlSTS.
Address an Open Letter to President
Roosevelt.

Lake George. y. Y, July 2I.-At n
meeting of representative anti-imper-
Ialists held in New York City last
spring II committee was appointed TO
Investigate army conditions in the Phil
Ippines. That committee has since
then been prosecuting Its inquiries.
President Roosevelts recent review or
the courtmnrtial of Gen. jacob II.
Smith seemed to the committee to de
mand some reply, and at meeting
Just held at Lake George an open let
ter was signed by Charles Francis Ad-
ans. chairman; Cnrl SchurZ. Edwin
Burritt Smith. Moorfield S. Torey and
Herbert Welsh. 1t says in part:
I'VE desire to express qualification
afforded us by your review of the l4th
instant as commanderi chief. OF the
findings of the courtmartial in the case
| of Gen. j. II. Smith. Taken in coInec-
tion with the previous memorandum or
April 18th, that review Will. provided
Ii be followed by corresponding general
action, in our opinion do much toward
the re-establishment of the national
prestige and the restoration of the NOR
ais OF the army.
while thus. however, expressing our
sense of obligation. we wish most re-
spec fully to call your attention to cer-
tain conclusions which we have in tho
course of our own inquiries found our
selves compelled to reach.
Coming directly to the point. AMI
speaking historically, our investisa-
tions have led us to conclude that the
decentralization of officers and soldiers
OF our army in the Philippines, includ
ing all branches of the service, and al
grades of rank was far more general,
ss well as pronounced, than miglIs l'e
inferred from your review of tn" court
martial findings In the case OF General
S'iiith. The essential facts charged in
this case, we believe we have raason
to say, were rather notorious than eX-
ceptlonal. Demorallzing influences,
prejudIcial to any high standard OF
military morals. were, under i''n CIR
cumstances inevitable. This led t. III
Inentable results. calling for the firm
land and stern correction found. and
rnost fortunately applied, in you: or
ucrs of April 18th and July l4th.
Meanwhile. we would respectfully
submit that the good of the army and
the future of our eastern dcpenisn, les
demand that investigation should not
stop at this point. or with results nj
ready reached. The inquiries we as
committee have made, necessarily I'M
perfect have yet been sufficient TO sat
lsfy us that General Smith and Major
Waller We're not the sole culprits. ncr
should they suffice in the character of
scapegonts."
The letter discusses the kill anG
burn" order, and says:
"As the not unnatural result of f,ili
tary operations so inspired. an official
report indicates that, out OF n total
population in n single district of BOO
600, not less than 100000 perished.'
The letter closes with the following
statement:
I'VE hold ourselves ready to direct
yCur attention to concrete cases. the
investigation of which would demon
strate the following criminal acts, con-
trary to all recognized rules and
usages OF warfare. on the part "f tue
officers and soldiers of the United
States:
"First-Kidnaping and murder. under
circumstances of aggravated brutality.
'Second-Robbery.
''rhird-Torture, both of men and
women, and rape of the latter.
''Fourth-The infiiction of death on
other parties. on the strength of evil
dence elected through torture"