The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-14
How Senator'S Beveridge and Dietrich
Led "A Witness to Eat Food He
Had Denounced Bad.
TESTIMONY OF G.. D. BOARDMAN
SOLDIER WHO HAD TROUBLE WITH
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.,
And Who Dined with Playful Senator
After COndemning Methods
in the Philippines.
to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, May 13.-Senators Bev-
eridge, of Indiana, and Dietrich, of Ne
braska, were the perpetrators of the best
joke of the session at the Senate to-day.
Both senators are members of the Philip
pine committee which this morning
wrestled with a young man named Board
man. formerly a private in the Twentieth
United States Infantry. The young Wit
ness had little misunderstanding with
the War Department officials while serving
in the Philippines, refusing TO return on a
transport after his discharge. choosing 10
return via the Suez canal route, and, OF
course, the department refused 10 consider
the matter of travelling expenses home. On
this account, it is said, Young Boardman is,
a little sore. He became involved in several
tits with Senator Beveridge while giving
his testimony and finally pulled from his
pocket a can of salmon and a package of
condensed food for the enlightened senators
to gaze upon, declaring the stuff unfit for
a man to eat and a sample of what is
served to the soldier boys in the Philip
pines. He scored the food numerically.
After his discharge as a witness by the
committee Senators Beveridge and Dietrich
them. OF course, he was surprised, but ac-
cepted. He considered it an honor, and
it was In the meantime the senators sent
the can of salmon and the concentrated
food to the Senate cafe to be served
to the party at luncheon. The first
thing served was a delicious soup made
from the concentrated food tablets, next
an elegant-looking salmon salad and a few
other things on the side. Boardman declared
he had enjoyed the lunch, and thanked the
senators. He did not know that he had
partaken of the salmon and food tablets
that he had brought 10000 miles. Nor will
he know until he reads the papers to-mor-
row morning The news of the joke spread
around the Senate later in the afternoon.
and the Democrats declared it "a dirty
Irish trick"
BOARDMAN'S TESTIMONY.
In his testimony to-day Boardman said
that the natives in Batangas, where he
was stationed, became very bold and
threatening after the Balangiga massacre
and intimated that the troops would be
served likewise. 1t needed an order such as
General Smith gave to make the natives
realize that the United States meant busi-
ness He said the men in the Philippines
knew that war is hell" and the boys
were going to give the Filipinos hell" while
it lasted He said the troops grew morose
and dissatisfied in the Philippines. They
were not given proper food and he ex-
hibited two cans of food which he received.
which. he said. was unfit TO eat He said
the soldiers did not like Governor Taft, but
did like General Chaffee
Mr. BOardman said that before the order
of Gen. Jacob II. Smith TO kill and burn the
soldiers of his company being in such con-
stant fear Of massacre would suddenly
awake and in their fright exclaim: Get
After General Smith issued his order. he
said the natives for the first time under
stood that the Americans meant what they
said. and the troops felt safe. The di1i-
Guilty, ne said was because a certain order
| by General Otis for the killing of outlaws
! never was executed and this made the
natives bold in their resistance. They all
! deplored the death Of Luna. but hailed with
delight Aguinaldos capture. Witness said
that Filipino prisoners were treated too
good. so much so that they preferred TO
remain prisoners to being sent back among
/ their people
The general course of conduct of Ameri-
/ can officers and men toward peaceful Fill
pinos he said, was humane. The men,
/ however. were discouraged on account Of
/ the food they got and officers would not
/ object when the men were hungry. 10 their
| going into a house and taking food. The
/ whole tendency Of the army said the wit
! ness. was 10 make the men anything but
/ pIeasant toward the natives. They used
/ the gun TO shoot with rather than 10 preach
/ the gospel with"
/ His orders were TO treat the Filipinos
\ kindly. but witness added. war is he'll
/ and the boys are going TO give the Fill
\ pinos he'll while war prevails"
BEVERIDGE CREATED A FURRY.
/ Senator Beveridge created furry by ask
! ing the witness if he had talked with any
senator since ne was last on the stand.
/ Senators Patterson and Carmack vigorous
Is objected 10 what they termed an un-
called for reflection on the minority.
+ when there is an imputation made by
me 1t viii be made directly" answered
/ Senator Beveridge. The witness declared
that he had talked with no member OF the
/ committee. and the matter was closed
! Responding 10 a question by Senator Car
J CONTINUED ON PAGE 5. COL. %