The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-28
WHEATON IS SCORED
HIS CRITICISM OF PROF. sCHUR-
 MAN RESENTED.
wrangle in the Senate Over the Right of an Army Officer to
 Impugn a Citizens Motive.

Washington, Jan. 27.-An animated and prolonged discussion was precipitated in the Senate today oyer the right of army officers to criticize utterances made in the Senate or elsewhere oh the conduct of affairs in the Philippines. At times 1t became somewhat acrimonious, omcers in the Philippines being taken sharply to task for statements attributed to them in dispatches from Manila.
 Mir. Dubois Qdaho) had read an Asso- ciated Press dispatch from Manila, in which General Wheaton was quoted as criticizing some utterances of Professor schurman in a speech delivered in Bos- ton. MT. Dubois thought the President. in the circumstances. would be warranted in reprimanding General Wheaton for his criticisms. He declared that such com ment upon the action of the Senate was ''outrageous and indecent" and that the minority had had quite enough ot threats and blackmail.
 MT. Lodge (Mass.), MT. Spooner CWis.) and others maintained that no newspaper utterance ought to be accepted as the basis of a reprimand of any officer un- less 1t were supported by an investiga- ton indicating the accuracy of the re- port.
 MT. Mooney CNfiss.) delivered an ex- tended speech, going pretty thoroughly over the whole Philippines question.
 Mir. Platt (Conn.) took sharp issue with the Mississippi Senator on some of his conclusions of constitutional law, con- tending that the United States could not be expected to grant independence to ths Filipinos and to relinquish all rights in the islands because merely some of the natives desire liberty.
 Soon after the Senate convened today MT. Lodge, chairman of the Philippine Committee, favorably reported resolu- tion authorizing that committee to make an investigation of the Philippine ques- ton, and for that purpose to sit during the sessions of the Senate. The resolu- ton was referred to the Committee on Contingent Expenses.
 F MT. Dubois Qdaho) directed attention to an Associated Press dispatch from Ma niIa quoting General Wheaton as criticis- ing some remarks of Dr. Schurman in a speech at Boston and that the opinion was prevalent in the Philippines that men were sent to prison in Manila for saying less.
 T think" said MT. Dubois, fin view of the statements in this dispatch, the Pres ident ought to reprimand General Whea- ton and those officers in the Philippines who are criticising the Senate for its &C., tion or statements regarding the Philip pines."
 q don't know who General Wheaton is. but he is probably some charity boy ap- pointed to West Point by 8 Senator or Representative and since supported by the Government. Such remarks as. he is quoted as having made are, however, out rageous and indecent"
 Mir Lodge (Mass.) suggested that it would be wise to ascertain before General Wheaton was reprimanded whether he actually made the statements attributed to him. General Wheaton, he said. was an officer of ability and character and no nasty action ought to be taken in such a case.
 MT. Teller: 'I don't think there's any doubt that General Wheaton said what is attributed to him."
 MT. Lodge: There may be a great deal of doubt about it.'
 MP. Teller, continuing. said such a situation as had arisen was one of the blessings growing out of the conditions in the Philippines, a paddock, he asserted was to be placed upon the mouth of every man, congressman or private citi- zen, and all criticism of the administra- tion's Philippine policy was to be silenced. He referred to the criticism of Senators, who had antagonized the administrations policy to the Philippines. declaring they had been charged even with treason.