The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-23
DEN0UNCES PHILIPPINE CON-
CENTRATION CAMPS
REPUBLICAN OBJECTION
To the Term Reconcentrado a.
Calculated to Place the Odium of
Weylerism on the Army-Senator
Bacon Quotes from n Speech of
of Policy b the Repblieans-Reso-
luton of Congratulations to Cuba.
House Declares Mr.. Thomas En-
titled to His Seat.

senate resumed consideration of the
Philippine bill today it adopted resc-
luton congratulating the republic of
Cuba upon its entry into the family
of independent nations, and the secre
tary of state was directed to transmit
the resolution to the president Of the
new republic. The senate also ordered
the Associated Press account of the
ceremonies of the transfer from ths
United States to the Cuban authorI-
ties printed in the Congressional Re-
cord as a public document.
Senator Wellington, of Maryland.
opposed the pending Philippine meas
ure and denounced the action of the
United States In the islands as inde-
fensible as the attack of the hordes OF
hell upon God. He declared that above
the army and the war department and
the president We're the Am erican peo
pie, and, in his judgment, they were
responsible for the condition of affairs
in the Philippines because they haG
placed the dollar above the man.
In a continuation of his speech of
yesterday Senator Bacon, of Georgia,
again denounced the concentration
policy pursued in the Philippines. He
indicated that if leading republican
senators would declare it to be their
purpose to give the Filipinos a free
government the minority would not
quarrel about the time when the gov
ernment was to be established. They
desired simply to know that the Phil
ippine eXcrescence was to be cut off,
Adverting to the policy of concentra-
ton, Senator Bacon said that Senator
INer., ,l-.ar- hnl 4o1
the orders for concentration had been
issued for a humanitarian purpose and
to protect the friendly Filipinos from
bandits and guerrilla bands. The
trouble with that idea was that def
mite date had been fixed for the coming
into the concentration camps of the
F'ilipinos, the order stating that If the
inhabitants did not enter the camps
by the specific date their property
would be liable to confiscation. 1t was
evident that the concentration order
had some other purpose than that
stated by Senator Foraker.
When he referred to the camps as
reconcentrado camps, Senator Spooner
inquired if it was his purpose to fasten
upon the American army the odium OF
Weylerism. He said the term recon-
centrado stood for a policy of infamy
which was not the purpose of General
Bell in issuing the concentration order
and he believed Senator Bacon knew
that the general had no such purpose
Senator Bacon said he had called at
tention to this matter simply to show
the American people what were the re-
suits of the Philippine policy in ordcc
that understanding it, they might b.
induced to abandon it,
Discussing the term "scuttle' as ap-
piled to he Philippine policy, he de-
clared that what the minority now
asked to be done as to the Philippines
was precisely what leading senators
OF the majority wanted to be done IN
the beginning. And yet the term
"scuttle' now was applied to the sug-
geStion of the minority. He read from
4 speech by Senator Spooner in sup
port Of his assertion, declaring that the
Wisconsin senator had committed him
self to the proposition that we ought 10
establish q government for the Fiji
pino.
Senator Bacon did not conclude mis-
speech today being compelled to stop
on account of the bad condition of MS
throat.
House of ReDresentntfves.
The house began consideration of the
immigration bill today The principaI
speech was made by Mr.. Shattuc, of
ONO, chairman of the committee on i'm
migration.
ne was especially severe in his con-
demnation Of the manner in which i'm
migrants are introduced through Cana
da and by Canadian railway and steam
ship companies.
Mr.. Underwood, of Alabama, CAV
notice OF an amendment to provide an
educational test, and much Of the dis
cussion during the day was upon this
subject. Mr.. Underwood spoke of the
growing need of stringent restrictions
"a 90
self preservation for American citizer-
ship and republican institutions The
class of immigration had descende
since 1880, due to the inducements held
out to the pauper and criminal element
OF Europe to immigrate until, Mr.. Un-
derwood declared, a grave and threat
en1ng condition was presented
The house agreed to the resolution
seating Charles R. Thomas from the
Third North Carolina district; also seat
ing Emmet Tompkins from the Twelfth
Ohio district, whose seat was contested
by John ]. Lentz; also confirming the
right Of Mr.. Rhea, Of the Ninth. vir-
ginia district.