Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-04
spooner, Lodge and Foraker Defend Con-
duct of Army and Governor Taft
MINORITY CHAFES UNDER SEVERE REBUKE
Insists on Bringing Gardener Home Despite
Judgment of General 0haffee.
MORGAN TRIES TO CALM THE STORM
Majority Members Declare Their De
sire to See Fairness Reign to Ex
cIusiOn of Political Prejudice
in InsuIar Affairs.


Philippine question became heated in the
senate today. Thus far the minority prac-
tically has had a clear field in the debate,
| the policy Of the majority being to permit
| the criticisms of the democratic members
of the body to proceed without Interrupt
tion.
Today It was different. Mr.. Spooner Of
| Wisconsin Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts, and
Mr.. Foraker Of Ohio became aroused. They
spoke in defense Of the admins tration,
Of the army and Of Governor Taft, and they
| spoke hotlY. almost unrestrainedly. The
result was one Of the most spirited de-
| bates that has occurred on the Philippine
question
While the debate took wide range. 1t
revoved around the resolution calling for
Major Cornelius Gardener in the Philip
pines to appear as soon possible before
the Philippine commission as a witness.
cablegram from General Chaffee was read
| by Mr.. Lodge. saying 1t was impracticable
| for Gardener to leave the islands at pres
| ent as he was a special figure in a court
of inquiry which investigating the
conditions of the province of which he
was the provincial governor
Sec No Good I'm Debate.
Both Mr.. Morgan and Mr.. Pettus in
dicated that they could see no good to
come from a pursuit of the discussion and
the latter urged the withdrawal Of the
| resolution.
| No action had been taken on the reso-
luton when the senate adjourned ac-
count Of the death Of Representative Amos
]. Cummings Of New York.
A cablegram from General Chaffee, relat-
ing to Major Gardener, stated that board
consisting Of Colonels' Wint and Duncan
| In Iobn fiua Ing
the charges made by Major Gardener, but
up to the present time Major Gardener had
furnished the name of only one man, al
! though saying he had several witnesses.
Mr. Spooner, commenting upon this cir
cumstance, said that II was improper to
insist that Major Gardener should be
brought here while the Investigation was
| pending.
At the conclusion Of routine business in
the senate today the resolution previously
offered by Mr. Patterson Of Colorado. re-
! questing the president to cause the secre-
tary OF war TO cable Major Gardener in the
Philippines to come to Washington to ap-
pear as a witness before the Philippine
committee, was laid before the senate.
i Lodge Makes Explanation.
MIR. Lodge Of Massachusetts, chairman of
the Philippine committee, explained that
when 1t had been learned that Major Gard
I eners regiment would not leave the Phil
1 ippines until about June 10, the committee
on Philippines had decided to secure, II
possible, Major Gardeners presence as soon
as possible Later it was found that Major
Gardener had hled no specifications OF the
charges he had made to the Philippine COM
mission. The committee then had rescinded
its action calling for Major Gardener.
Mr.. Spooner said outrages probably had
been committed in isolated instances in
the Philippines. He condoned no outrages
of any kind. All charges oficially made
OF such outrages would be Investigated
thoroughly and undoubtedly the guilty would
! be punished
But" said he, "the American people
will convict no man without hearing and
will convict no man on statements made
in the Congressional Record. They will
demand punishment Of the guilty. but the
investigation must. by the same demands
be conducted with fairness and Justice"
Would Wait on investigation.
Mr.. spooner declared that he was not
willing to vote for the resolution, because
the secretary Of war, as soon as the mat
ter had been brought to his attention, had
ordered investigation to be made of the
charges Of Major Gardener. The complaint
retary OF war had not given the charges on
their receipt to the. Associated Press for
wide dissemination.
He was interrupted by Mr.. Carmack who
said that the complaint was that the
5 charges had not been furnished to the
l Philippine committee.
That is" said Mr.. spooner, that they
4 had not been made public"
1--WE have heard nothing from the mi
= noritY." declared Mr. Spooner, except
suppression, suppression. suppression, and
! yet every possible EFFORT is being made by
e the department to ascertain the facts and
punish the guilty"
r The minority, he insisted, urged that
, MAJOR Gardener be brought here to Wash
2 ington to repeat his charges before the
e Philippine committee against his comrades
, who were 5000 miles away. The sense
= OF decency OF the world, he declared, would
e be shocked by such action
Wants Charges Proved.
Major Gardener. he said had asked to
come here and give bis testimony. Why
he had asked he did not know. Personally
he was not given to insinuation, as the
I minority seemed TO be. II he were he 100,
might say some eaustic things about Major
Gardeners report. He declared that Major
Gardener ought 10 make good his charges
, where they were made-among his com
rades.
!, Mr.. Foraker defended Governor Taft
:. against the charge that he had withheld
!, Major Gardeners report The record. "
: he said, shows concluslvely that such q
statement Is not warranted"
Mr.. Lodge here took the noor TO with
: draw his request that the resolution lie
upon the table. adding that he preferred
y to have the question passed upon now.
1T is" he said. perfectly monstrous
to bring Major Gardener here and allow
~ him 20 make his accusations in a com