The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-07-31
LETTER To ROOSEVELT
Anti-Imperialists Discuss Army Con-
ditions in Philippines.
WANT FURTHER INVESTIGATION

Letter Is An Answer to Review OF
Smiths Case, and Makes Charges
Of Murder, Robbery and Torture
Against Officers and Men On Islands.
Lake George, N. Y, July 2S.-At a
meeting Of representative antiimper.
ialists held in New York city last
spring a committee was appointed to
Investigate army conditions in the
Philippines. That committee has since
then been prosecuting its inquiries.
President Roosevelts recent review Of
the court martial of General Jacob H.
Smith seemed to the committee to de-
mand some reply, and at a meeting
Just held at Lake George an open let
ter to the president was adopted. The
letter was signed by Charles Francic
Adams, chairman; Carl Schurz, Edwin
Burritt Smith, Moorefeld Storey and
Herbert Welsh. 1t says:
I'VE desire to express the great
qualification afforded us by your re
view of the 14th inst as commander.
in-chief, OF the findings of the court
martial in the case of General Jacob
II. Smith. The level here reached Is
lofty, and in healthy contrast with that
spirit, far TOO prevalent, which seeks
excuse, if not justification, for the ex'
cesses of the present, in every in.
stance of inhumanity which can posi-.
bly, be exhumed either from colonial
history, or from the regrettable rec.
ords Of our Indian warfare.
while thus, however, expressing
our sense of obligation, we wish most
respectfully to call your attention to
certain conclusions which we have in
the course of our own inquiries found
ourselves compelled to reach. Coming
directly to the point, our investiga
tions have led us to conclude that the
decentralization of the officers and sol.
diers of our army in the Philippines
including all branches of the service
and all grades of rank, was far more
general than might be inferred from
your review of the court martial find
ings in the case Of General Smith. The
essential facts charged in this case,
we believe we have reason to say,
were rather notorious than excep.
tional. Demoralizing influences, very
| prejudicial to any high standard OF
military morals, were, under the cir.
cumstances. inevitable. This led tc
| lamentable results. calling for the firm
hand and stern corr ction found, and
most fortunately applied. in your or.
ders OF April 18th and July 14th."
The letter then discusses the Kill
and burn order and says: "As the not
unnatural result of military operations
so inspired, an official report indicates
that out of total population in a sin
gle district of 100000, not less than
100000 perished."
The letter then aludes to the water
cure saying that the first reports OF
its practice met with denials, while
evidence before the senate Philippine
committee proved conclusively that
this and other forms of torture had
| been used.
The letter concludes: 1--WE find our.
selves compelled to take issue with
you on one important point. In your
review of July IA you say almost uni
versally the higher officers have so
borne themselves as to supply the ne
cessary check over acts of an improp.
er character by their subordinates.
We. on the contrary, have found our.
selves compelled to the belief that the
acts referred to were far more gen,
eral, the decentralization more all-per.
vasive. We hold oudselves ready to
direct your attention to concrete cases
the investigation of which would
demonstrate the following criminal
acts. contrary to all recognized rules
and usages of war, on the part OF Off
GERS and soldiers of the United States:
Kidnapping and murder, under
circumstances of aggravated brutality
"2-Robbery.
"3-Torture. both OF men and WON
en-, and rape OF the latter.
"4-The infliction Of death on other
parties, on the strength of evidence
elected through torture"