Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-05-24
WARM DISCUSSION
ON PHILIPPINES
Representative Vandiver Of
Missouri Stirred the
Members.
VEHEMENT
Personalities and RecrImInations
Were freely Passed About-Aw-
full Charges OF Cruelty In
Philippines.

terday was plunged into an exciting de
bate on Philippine affairs. Thus far til,
subject of alleged atrocities I'm the is
lands has engaged the attention of the
senate alone, and only occasional echoe:
have been heard i'm the house. But yes.
terday the repor OF cruelty and out.
age were rehearsed in the house with
vehemence and bitterness. The nava
bill was the order OF the day, but it re.
ceiyed only scant attention after the al
legations OF Philippine outrages were
presented.
A speech by Nj. Vandiver of Mis-
souri,, reciting instances OF alleged out.
RACES, brought on the discussion. Per
sonalities and determinations were free.
ly passed about. Mr.. Vandiver was sup
ported In his cpuSlsms by Mr.. Wheeler
or Kentucky, While vehement defenses
OF the American soldiers were made by
Mr.. Hepburn OF Iowa, Mr.. Grow OF
Pennsylvania, Mr.. Hill OF Connecticut
Mr.. W. A. Smith of Michigan, and Mr..
Lessler Of New York.
The senate amendment to the agri-
cultural appropriation bill was dis
agreed to and the bill sent to confer
ence.
AS the result OF several cases Of emer-
gency illness which have occurred in the
house a resolution was adopted direct
ing the sergeant at arms to provide an
emergency equipment OF medicines and
instruments. 10 be approved by Repre-
sentatlves Wilson, Showalter and Ball,
physician members.
The naval appropriation bill was
then k up, and an agreement made
extending the general debate until 4
o'clock.
Mr.. Vandiver Of Missouri sent to the
desk N had read a statement appear
ing In the Irish World, signed by Cor
poral Richard O'Brien Of Company NJ,
T~wenty-sixth volunteers. giving alleged
details of atrocities in the Philippines,
the killing OF native women and babes
under circumstances Of unusual
cruelty. including the alleged use Of
dumdum bullets.
When Mr.. Vandiver asked If any one
In hal Of the administration was
ready to rise and defend the atrocities
by American soldiers on natives, Mr..
w. A. Smith of Michigan retorted with
an inquiry whether any one on the
other side Of the chamber was ready
to rise and defend the atrocities of ma
tiYes on American soldiers.
An exciting passage followed between
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Vandiver. The lat
ter asserted that atrocities neither on
sid nor the other were defended.
Il have evidence piled mountain
high" declared Mr.. Vandiver, "of
cruelty, extOrtion, torture, murder, ar
son, rape and every other crime known
to the calendar"
That is false" exclaimed Mr.. Smith,
land / hurl pack the charge at the gem
tleman and call upon him TO produce
the proofs IL he can"
The proofs are ample and will be
presented said Mr.. Nandiver.
THE gentleman ought to be ashamed
of himself" interrupted Mr.. Smith. ito
assail the American army 1000 miles
from home
Mr.. Vandiver responded hat his re-
spect for the dittates Of humanity were
greater than that for soldiers guilty Of
such cruelty. He proceeded to read
portions OF the testimony before the
Philippine committee Of the senat
When he re3erred to General Funston.
Mr.. Lands OF Indiana interjected the
sarcastic inquiry: Funston? That Is
the gentleman who captured your old
friend Emilio Aguinaldo?"
Yes" answered Mr.. Vandiver, land
this Emilio Aguinaldo seems to be a
great bugbear to the other side OF the
chamber"
But all his eulogies came from that
(the democTatic) side of the chamber"
answered Mr.. Lands.
Soon after Mr.. Nandiver became EN-
BdBtu III u WARM tDllOuuY WITH MI.
Hamilton of Michigan, who demanded
to know how a stable was
going to be maintained without sol
diers.
There was considerable confusion.
and the chair continued TO rap vigo.-
ously for order.
Mr.. Vandiver continued to recite
cases Of alleged cruelty.
Mr.. Mudd of Maryland gave notice
he would move an amendment TO
the bin %prohibiting the use of money
carried In the naval bill for the rur-
OF Maclay's history, the animal
in it against Admiral Schley
being responsible, in his opinion. To-
the court of inquiry. If the history had
been clear Of partisan feeling, he said,
and a the historian accepted the high
thought pronounced by SChley
that there was GLORY enough for all.
the American nation would not now lie
butt Of criticism among the naval
Of the world.
Mr.. Hill Of Connecticut made n spir-
tied rejoinder TO Mr.. Nandiver's speech
on cruelties In the Philippines, severely
lrraigning the Missouri member end
the minority on the ground hat an cx
parte case was being presented.
In the curse of his remarks AIR. Hill
said:
II came into the hall while the gem
tleman from Missouri was portray wing
he outragcs that had been perpetratel
by the American soldiers upon the Fill
and j regretted very much to
hear it. / had hoped that there would
a monopoly of hat kind of talk
and that we should not have
II the house OF representatives the
naligning and slandering of the Amer
can army while in the performance of
is duty"
Mr.. Hill detailed a visit he paid to
Smiths headquarters in the
Philippines and added:
II found the department of General
Smith in peace and quietness,
nd yet, while that condition existed.
his incident actually occurred: A
ompany of Tagalos, Filipinos, the Fill
Pine army, II you choose to call il
UGH, descended on n village of eace-
bile Filipinos who chose to carry on
heir regular business pursuits in peace
quietness, and destroyed that viii
age, numbering men, women and
hildren; and If the gentleman from
fissouri (Mr. Nandiver) desires a
pecimen of barbarity, / a to tell
what they did to loyal Filipinos
nd Americans. Thy too men out
nd tied them to ant hills, 6. or s or 10
eet high and 6 feet in diameter. filled
With ants hat are absolutely raven
us and eat up everything they come
n contact with. They tied these men
o ant hills and allowed them TO be !