The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-28

AXE GEORGE, y. u july N--At
meeting Of representative anti
inpsrialists. held in New York
10 last spring, a committee was ap-
..,ss 10 investigate army conditions
he Philippines.
mai committee has since then been
-,ss~gting SIS inquiries. President
s,.sgvslfs recent review of the court
81 .-+isl OF General Jacob II. Smith
- 70 the committee to demand
6 ,,-s reply and at d meeting just held
rske George. an open letter to the
,-.ssent was adopted.
M etter vas signed by Charles
r,rr-ls Adams chairman; Carl
s4r-1 Edwin Burritt Smith. Moore
~ Torrey and Herbert Welsh. II
g7S
We desire to express qualification
,s-,5ed Us by your review Of the
rs inst. a. commander-in-chi of
Il 4 findings Of the courtmartial in the
20 Of General J. II. Smith
-Tsken in connection with the pre-
i ,sps memorandum of April 10. that
3 slew will. provides il be followed BY
4 responding general action, in our
rnion do much toward the re-estab-
,,bueut Of the national prestige and
III restoration of the morals of the
4 gmy.
Especially Opportune, in our judg-
4 rsut Is your very comnlendabl re-
FINDER 70 officers in high and respon-
sse positions that in a warfare with
i b national dependents, such as that
.seentlv carried on by US in the east, IL
II. "a. 80 Ns,.r.
sry careful I'm their bearing and their
onduct as 20 keep a moral check over
,ry acts Of an improper character by
heir subordinate officers.
Presidents No Excuse.
The Level mere reached is hearty
4 I'D is in healthy contrast with that
n 7irit. Ear too prevalent, which seeks
4 Hcuss. il not Justification, for the eX-
pss Of the present in every instance of
humanity which 1t can possibly ex-
hume either from colonial history or
. rom the regrettable records of our
lriiar warfare.
While thus. however. expressing
4 'u sease Of ohligs ton. We wish most
s --nt'frliv ~ eaii vcur attention -
ain conclusions which we have in
ae course Of our own inquiries found
E-selyes compelled to reach.
Coming directly to the point. ane
i vsaking historically, our investiga
3 tons have led US to conclude that the
4 generalization Of officers and soldiers
Il II our army in the Philippines, includ-
4 he an branches of the service and all
grades Of rank, was far more general,
as well as pronounced. than might he
Etsrred from your review of the court
martial findings in the case of General
smith. The essential facts charged in
this case, we believe we have reason
% say, we're rather more notorious
than exceptional
"Denoralizing influences, very pre-
judicial 10 any high standard OF mill
i'aTy morals were. under the circum-
SanceS. Unavoidable.
This led 10 lamentable results, call
III for The firm and stern correction
uad and most fortunately applied
your orders Of April Is and July Il.
Should Continue Investigation.
Meanwhile we would respectfully
Eamit that. for the good of the army
ini the future Of our eastern indepen-
aelcies, Investigation should not stop
q his point or with results alrea1S
"ached. The inquiries We. as a COM
A-ttee. have made. though necessarily
imperfect, have vet been sufficient to
siisty us that General Hmith and
Ailo7 Waller were not sole culprits.
hor should they suffice in the character
q scspeEoats.
Ia your review of July IL you say
uat these cases were exceptional Your
mans OF Information on this point
s-'O.d unQuestionably be infinitely bet
Ter han ours.
meanwhile. il is always to be borne
and that one side only of this pain
story has been heard. and that side
wy p part The testimony of repre-
-4tNe Fl.irinos has iealCuSly and
@,e,,-naucaly been suppressed.
judicial and impartial examination
a' spot has been denied. or pro-
-Ace1 impraCticable
n the present case. occa sionally
-- oF accident merely. have frag-
Us Or Information come to general
Nv 1eise-hrokeu glimpScs only have
-e permitted 10 reach the country.
e.. our minds they indi"ate unmis-
-A-oly condition of great and gem
-' generalization. OF this. the find
IS, Or the courtmartial referred TO at
' conclusive evidence. as also dc
published orders Of commanding
,+fs and The representatives of pro-
'Aeal governors"
The Kill and Burn" Order.
The letter then discusses the xii
ou-n order. and says.
NE not unnatural result of mill
~ operauous so inspired. ofhcia
10y indicates that. out Of a tota
~ -.a'on M single district of SO0.0O'
tSS than 100000 perished
e letter then alludes 10 the waite
= saying that the first reports o
practice met with deuialS. whit
ea,e before the senate Philippine
-, l,tes proved conClusivesy that thi'
49, o-h-r forms Of torture had beel
-. and adds.
1erE inquiry revealed the system
~ se ~ torture by subordinates, tn
49, IN responsible command is pro
40 free from blame on the groun'
~ MS NraiSeworthy absorption II
go. auti-S II his position was s.
s,5-e'e that such trivial incident
49, 20 attract his notice. Such
80 lN certainly suggestive.
--a!.Y, every severity known 10 tn
80 . war. practices which have eN
49, me special reprobation OF tn
sss,..-Ddn people, when reported a
A. 50 of The hostilities in Cula un
As-|e spanish regime. or in Sout
~ during the Boer war. have bee
r.,s- 1kputed occurrence in the Philip
All Wounded Killed.
bo-.' ' m The early beginning Of opera
-. mere IL has been the practic'
r---r's,s-,, tlaily the order. TO kin thos
--Aoed in conflict.
trsti,. Ne manner. as respects concer