Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-03
'ear before committee to besmirch his
Mr.. Foraker Defends Taft.

Mr.. Foraker defended Governor Taft
against the charge that he had withheld
Major Gardeners report. The Record"
he said, shows conclGsively that such a
statement is not warranted"
Mr.. Lodge here took the floor to withdraw
his request that the resolution lie upon the
table, adding that he preferred to have the
question passed upon now. ''It is he sad
perfectly monstrous to bring Major Garde-
ner here and allow him to make his accu-
sat1ons in committee room of the Senate
when the officers against whom he makes
Philippines
He added that he considered it incompe-
tent to dissolve military board of inquiry
by resolution of the Senate.
With this latter remark Mr. Morgan said
he agreed.
Replying to the republican senator's Mr.
Rawlins said that his only intention in
bringing the Gardener matter to the atten-
ton of the Senate had been to develop the
status of the case.
Was it not" asked Mr.. Spooner 'the
senator's S purpose to tell us what the three
olIicers VINO have been appointed to invt sti-
gate the charges Of Major Gardener could
not be trusted to make a fair and imnar-
tial report?''
Il know neither of the three members of
.he BOARD said Mr.. Rawlins, but under
the circumstances l fear that It would be
hard to find men who would hold the scales
of justice exactly even
lie did not want to be smirch the army
put ne did want full inquiry to develop
the guilty and have them punished while
the innocent may be eXoner rated He said
the minority were met everywhere with
objections ard obstruction
Called to Order by Mr.. Lodge.
i call the senator from Utah to order"
said Mr.. Lodge. No senator has a right
to charge any other senator with obstruc-
ton
Mr. Rawlins referred to the case Of Pri-
vate Riley and quoted the Secretary of
war as saying in connection with it that
private soldiers are inclined to draw the
long bow in writing home of occurrences
in the Philippines, which. he said. was it.
sel1 a severe reflection on the army Con-
trary to the Secretary's statement he
said, the charges of the priyates had heen
sustained.
MI Lodge: The Riley case is the only
one that has been sustained"
Mr.. Rawins: The Riley case is the only
one that has been fully investigated
without replying Mr.. Lodge gave notice
OF a speech next Monday
Mr Culberson replied to Mr.. Foraker's
reference to Gov. Taft, saying he had in
timated a lack of candor in connection
with the Withholding of the report of
Major Gardener. He said that the report
mad oeen suppressed. and added that the
secretary of War was now attemptins 10
take the inquiry out Of the hands of the
Senate committee.
Ask for Withdrawal of Resolution.
AT the conclusion of Mr. Culberson's cop,-
ment Mr.. Pettus (Ala) said: Il rise merely
to ask the senator from Utah (Mr. Rawlins,
to withdraw the resolution Wa ,ra i
situation where the witness cannot be had:
and why press 1t? And why press this dis
cussion, which can only lead to bitterness?'
Mr. Foraker took sharp execution IN tho
criticism Of Gov. Taft made by Mr.. Culber
son. He paid high tribute to Gov Taft
and declared that Il had remained for the
minority to question his honesty of purpose
and his veracity.
Mr.. Patterson Of Colorado uaS ,5;r,r
to snow that the Senate Philippine commit
tee had a right to believe when Gov Taft
turhed over to them reports of provinces
under MS charge that he was turning over
all the reports. when Mr. Foraker Of Ohio
interrupted to show that the committee had
no rlsht to assume that Gov Taft was
dolhs more than turning over reports in his
possession at that time
Mr.. Foraker Started to Leave.
Mr Patterson, at the end of this exp!ana-
ton, insisted that he did not wish to he
interrupted while he was stating his case
whereupon Mr.. Foraker arose and said that
in that case he didn't care to hear what the
senator had to say.
Mr.. Foraker started to leave the Senate
chamber and was well his way toward
one of the exits when Mr.. Patterson pleaded
that he hoped the senator would not desert
the debate, and that rather than have him
do so he would permit all the interruption
he cared to make.
My only thought was" said Mr. Fora
ker, that If / could not correct ANYTHING
that L conceived to be a mis-statement
then it is useless for me to remain here
especially as l have a very urgent call to
the restaurant"
AS Mr.. Patterson proceeded Mr.. Foraker
relented and, going on the other side of
the chamber sat down next to Senator
Spooner, continuing to listen to the re-
marks of the Coloaco senator