The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-09-23
The Kill and Burn Order
Was Justified, They
Say.
COPY OF Resolutions will Be
Sent TO SECRETARY OF war
Nineteenth Regiment Closes
Its Reunion in Canton
With Sensational Stand on
Much Discussed Question.

Resolutions emphatically endorsing
the action Of General Jacob II. Smith
in his famous kill and burn" cam-
paign in Samar and expressing their
by him ait the hands of the alministra-
ton were adopted amid cneers and
applause at the evening session OF the
Nineteenth Regiment of Ohio Infantry
held Friday evening in the assembly
room Of the city.
The resolution was offered by for
mer adjutant of the regiment, Philip
ID. Reefy, now mayor of Elyria and one
of the best known figures among sur.
vivors of the old 10Th Its text is as
follows:
Resolved, That it is the sense of
the comrades of the 18th Onio Volun-
teer Infantry, assembled in reunion
at Canton, O., that the conduct of Gen.
Jacob H. Smith, while in command OF
the District of Samar, Philippine Is
lands, was eminently just, considering
the conditions then existing within his
jurisdiction, and that we look with
disfavor upon any action which tends
to dishonor our comrade who gave IL
years of his life in defense of the hon
or and glory of our beloved coun-
try"
CHEERS FOR SMITH.
After the reading and adoption Of
the resolution it was moved and voted
that copy of the resolutions be sent
to General Smith and that another
copy be forwarded to the secretary of
war. The enthusiasm with which the
resolutions were received and adopted
showed that the sentiments contained
therein were given the hearty approval
Of every soldier present and that they
believed the long years of service
given by General Smith to his country
were deserving Of something more
than the dishonor that must come un-
der the circumstances of his retire.
ment.
Veterans of the old 18th Ohio Vol
unteer Infantry, now grown grizzled
and bent with the weight of passing
years since they toiled together over
the long marches, fought shoulder to
sh oulder and slept side by side around
bivouac fires on southern battlelields,
met Friday evening in the city hall
assembly, room for the closing session
of their reunion. Memorials of the
days when they marched an1 fought
beneath the old flag whose folds now
decorate their halls in peace were WV
idly recalled by the thrilling words
of their former commander, General
G. j.. Henderson and other comrades
present and the hall rang time and
again with cheers from the throais
whose huZzas once answered the rebel
YELL About 1875 survivors of the regi-
nent were present. The next reun-
ion will be held at Warren on Sept. Is,
1893.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
During the later hours of the after
noon session the election OF next
years officers was taken up and result
ed In the selection of the following:
President, M. o. Messer, Warren;
vice president, Austin A. Hay, Beach
City; secretary and treasurer. Thomas
A. Rrierly, Warren, was reelected.
At the conclusion OF the business
session at $3.50 o'clock the veterans
formed in line on Cleveland avenue
and under command or General Man
derson marched to the public square
and were placed on board special cars
by which they>were conveyed to LIN
coin avenue where they reformed and