New-York tribune., 1902-05-21
THE PHILIPPINE DEBATE.
SPEECHES BY SENATORS FORAKER,
CLAPP, HOAR AND BACON.
CONCENTRATION CAMPS DEFENDED AND
CRITICISED-THE DEMOCRATIC
LEADERSHIP.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BuNE.l

IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
Washington May 20-Mr Bacon of Georgia. con
tinued to-day in the Senate the Democratic argu-
ment against the Philippine Civil Government bill,
If. by any stretch of definition the attack made by
the minority that measure can be so designated
The senior Senator from Georgia in the last Con-
gress took conspicuous part in shaping Democratic
policy in the upper house. and much was expected
of him this winter by those who watched his
sudden rise to party leadership. In the parlia
mentary contests which have arisen al this session
Mr.. Bacon has, however, shown no disposition 10
play leading role the minority side. and the
leadership has fallen rather Unexpectedly to first
year Western converts 10 the Democratic faith,
like Mr.. Teller and Mr. Dubois. to newcomers
from the South, like Mr.. Bailey and Mr.. Carmack.
The Georgia Senator's speech to-day was, in fact
his first serious contribution this years debates.
his only other noteworthy effort having been a
feeble hearted fight in executive session against
some of the features of the treaty made with Den
mark for the acquisition of St. Thomas. st. Croix
and ST. John. Mr. Bacons quiescence this year
has been interpreted by many observers as only
one additional sign of that encouragement which
the older Democratic leaders in the body have both
felt and shown at the recent rapid growth within
the party of radical and visionary tendencies and
the transfer of power to inexperienced and reck-
less hands The Georgia Senator spoke to-day on
the political status OF the Filipinos affected by
pending legislation and the reported abuses Of
military policy in the Philippines.
The concentration camps in the Philippines was
a leading topic in the discussion. Mr.. Bacon at
tackled this policy nkening il TO the reconcentrado
camps established by General Weyler in Cuba.
Mr. Foraker. of Ohio, defended the action of the
military authorities in establishing the camps in
the Philippines wise and proper and as
of protecting friendly FiIipinos from
sassination at the hands of rowing bands OF in
surgents He read description OF the camps, TO
show that they were really camps Of instruction
and sanitation.
Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts. spoke briefly In
line with Mr.
camps. and pointing the difficulty in getting
army officers 10 testify regarding the situation
The days debate was closed by Mr.. Clapp Of
Minnesota. in an eloquent speech in which ne
urged that the Filipinos ought 10 be taught to
admire and respect the United States a nation
which always had stood for liberty and progress
and never had broken its word.
SENATOR BACON'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Bacon said that there was. in part civil gov
ernment established in the Philippines under
the power. which full conferred
by the pending bill Under the proposed measure
greater power in the exploitation Of the islands
could be exercised. Why is il. he inquired. that
there should be such urgency in passing the pend
ing bill when it afforded practically no advantages
over the present law except that corporations
would have special advantages in exploitation of
the resources OF the islands. He read a paragraph
in the bill show that IL contained a broad and
unlimited grant 10 the Philippine Commission
dispose in unlimited fashion Of the public domain
in the Philippines He declared that an examination
of the bill would show that corporation could
obtain million acres of land easily 1t
could get hve thousand. This he declared.
"enormity'
Mr. Lodge, chairman Of the Philippine Committee
interrupted 70 say that Section n OF the bill
stricted the ownership of land by corporation 20
five thousand acres
THAT restriction said Mr. Bacon. rs confined 20
corporations engaged in agriculture"
"Au other corporations" replied Mr. Lodge ARE
limited in the holding OF the lands necessary 20
their purposes"
Mr. Bacon thought corporation might be organ
lied 10 control all the mineral lands in the Philip
pines that would be infant as compared 70 the
great Steel Trust. on grave a the dis
position OF the public lands in the Philippines he
though there ought TO be the direct action OF Con-
gress AZ least the approval OF Congress. instead
OF intrusting the matter to the Philippine Com
mission.
THE CENTRAL QUESTION.
rs it," Mr.. Bacon asked. the purpose Of the
United States 10 retain the Philippine 1slands in
colonial dependency or 10 grant 10 them govern
ment OF their own?' That, he thought, the
great central question around which all other ques-
tions relating TO the islands must revolve If
said he. we have the high and noble purpose OF
giving the FilipinoS a free government-whether
partial or absc;ute-then is the time for Con-
gress to act upon that purpose" Mr.. Bacon de-
clared that not day passed that the troops OF
England not required 10 shed blood in order %
maintain Epslands supremacy. The "cruelties.
atrocities" and "barbariues' perpetrated IN the
Philippines. he said, were mentioned by him only
point that they the result of the Philip
pine policy OF the government.
Who is the defender Of the army? he inquired.
The man who denounCes the Outrages committed
I'm the Philippines and declares they unworthy
OF the army or the who defends the outraGes
and makes no distinction? Senators who denounce
these outTageS and the perpetrators OF them were,
he thought the real friends OF the army. He de-
clared that the responsibility for the situation. IN
cluding the outrageS committed. the burning or
rest those who have authorized and justified the
policy or the government
Mr. Bacon read a letter from an army otlSer.
for whom he vouched and whom he knew person.
ally describing a concentration camp. The letter
said this camp was In a SoSSy place. where RAIN
fell continually and outside OF which every nvtnS
cases OF smallpox. and five cases were added every
day. Clouds of vampire bats circled over the place
awaiting the dead coming to them every day. The
camp was like some suburb of he'll
While a ColloIuy was in progress concerning the
word ''reconcentration.' Mr. Spooner indicated
that it did in the Philippines what it
meant under Spanish rule in Cuba.
The Senator from Wisconsin. suggested MI
Carmack wants AmericaniZe the word, as he
has the policy IL represents
Well. retorted Mr.. spooner. the Senator from
Tennessee Is wtttier than he - wise. CLaushter1
MIR FORAKER DEFENDS THE CAMPS.
Mr.. Foraker said that Mr. Bacon had lkened the
concentration camps in the Philippines to those in
Cuba established under General Weyler. He made
comparisons OF the camps 70 show that this was
the case. The establishment Of these camps.
Mr.. Foraker said not act OF brutality, as
had been charged. but an act of mercy and kind
ness and 5 Of protecting the people from
the rowing bands of bandittt
Mr.. Foraker declared his purpose to accept the
word of Generals Bell and Wheaton and other
rather than that OF man whose name was not
given. The American people, he thought, also