The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-14
REPUBLICANS QUARREL
OVER The POLICY OF The PARTY IN
THE PHILIPPINES.
ANOTHER TILT IN THE SENATE

Newspaper Representatives to the
Committee MISUNDERSTANDING
Hoar Takes a Hand-Senator Till
the Federal Party in the Philip
pines Presented-House Passes
First Spanish War Claim Bill.
Washington. February 12.-With the
exception Of a sharp clash between
Senator Lodge and Senator Patterson
over the admission Of representatives of
the press to the investigation which the
Philippines commission is conducting
the discussion of the Philippine tariff
bill in the nat today was quiet. The
| Colorado senator desired that all news
paper men be admitted to the commit
tee hearings. declaring hat as now con-
Quoted, they were of a Star Chamber
character. He Said his recollection was
that Senator Lodge had suggested HI
the hearings be entirely secret.
This drew the fire of the Massachu-
sets senator. who Indignantly denied
that he had suggested anything of the
kind. He insisted that the reports
made Of the hearings by the press as
sociations were accurate and fair to
both sides of the controversy.
A communication from the secretary
of. war. transmitting a memorial of the
federal party of the Philippine islands
in support of American rule in the is
lands called from Senator Patterson
the statement that the federal party
had obtained it's control in the Philip
pines by promising to the Filipinos that
they would be admitted ultimately to
statehood in the United States.
Senator Teller occupied the attention
ot today's session and has not yet con-
Guided his speech.
In response to some statements made
during the debate of yesterday Senator
Teller asserted that the prominent conl-
manGerS of the American army did not
agree with the conclusions reached by
the members Of the Philippine commits
sion IS to the reconciliation of the peo-
pie of the Philippines. He mentioned
among others the name Of General
Chaffee.
Senator Proctor, Interrupted to say
that today he had received a letter from
General Chaffee in the course of which
he expressed his view upon the situa-
ton in the islands. The letter was
dated at Manila on December n, 1901.
SAA~ lfoii ~ lila a W
you that we are progressing very well
in stamping out the insurrection and
in the course of two or three months we
will have the situation we'll in hand"
General Chaffee believed that in a short
time the Filipinos would become tired
of the struggle and they certainly would
get tired before the American army did.
Senator Hoar suggested there was d
difference between the stamping out OF
the insurrection and the reconciling OF
the Filipinos to American control.
Senator Teller quoted and
magazine articles to show that cruel
ties and fortunes were applied to Fill
pino insurgents with a view to forcing
them to reveal the Kidding places OF
their rifles. The particular torture
upon which the Colorado senator dwelr
was the water cure. On the authority
of one writer, Senator Teller said of
160 Filipinos to whom the water cure
had been applied all but tWenty-six had
died from its effects
Senator Bacon. Of Georgia, suggested
that it might not be proper to charge
the American army with these cruelties.
The tortures were practiced, he
thought, principally by the Macabebe
scouts (~nativeS) n perhaps by some
nf the more vicious elements of the
army who were afforded opportunity by
the presence of the army in the Philip
pines to carry into effect their vicious
instincts.
Senator Tillman interrupted Senator
Teller to inquire of Senator Lodge,
chairman of the committee on Philip
pines, whether 1t was true. as had been
charged in some newspapers, that that
committee was conducting it's investi-
cation of the Philippine question in a
sort of a Star Chamber manner, special
representatives, of the press being ex-
cluded from the hearings.
SoDo0 l-@
hemence that that was an idle story;
that representatives of the three press
associations were admitted to the in
vestigation and that air reports were
being sent out to all the ewspapers of
the country. 1t had been decided by
the committee not to admit all newspa-
per men to the hearings because the
committee room was totally inadequate
for the accommodation OF the public.
Senator Tillman insisted that the re-
ports sent out were garbled and colored.
THAT is not true in my Judgment"
said Senator Lodge. THAT Is simply a
charge that all three ot these great
news associations send out garbled and
colored reports"
In spoons to an inquiry, Senator
Lodge said the committee had been as
diligent as possible in the conduct of
Its investigation. and witnesses would
he heard as rapidly as was practical.
1 SSldtOT TdlleTSOu Sdlu Wnen the
Philippine commission a the mat
ter of hearings under consideration, 4
was his recollection that the chairman
(Senator T.odge) had suggested that no
members of the press at all be admitted
to the hearings.
ct never made such a suggestions
never" interjected senator Lodge,
warmly: land 1 object to such state
ments as that made by the senator.
Notwithstanding" continued Sena-
tor Patterson, II reiterate my state
ment."
Il ask the SENATOR" interrupted Ser
ator Lodge. "if he reiterates the state
ment that I suggested that the press
be excluded"
That is my recollection" replied
Senator Patterson.
"Well," protested enato Lodge, Il
have denied that statement most EN-
phatically."
Senator Hoar raised the point of ordar