The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-21
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
Several Members Discuss Philippine
Recommendation Camps.

WASHINGTON, May 2O.-The subject of
the concentration of the inhabitants in
the Philippines was a leading topic of the
discussion of the Philippine bill in the
Senate to-day. Mr.. Bacon, of Georgia. at
tackled the policy of concentration, likening
it to the reconcentrado camps established
by General Weyler in Cuba.
Mr.. Bacon declared that not a day passed
that the troops of England were not re-
quired to shed blood in order to maintain
England's supremacy. The "cruelties,"
atrocities" and "barbarities" perpetrated
in the Philippines, he said. were mentioned
by him only to point out that they were
the result of the Philippine policy of gov
eminent.
''Who is the defender of the army" he
inquired. THE man who denounces the
outrages committed in the Philippines and
declares they are unworthy of the army;
or the man who defends the outrages and
makes no distinction? Senators who de-
nounce these outrages and the perpetra-
ton of them are, he thought, the real
friends of the army. He declared the
sponsibility for the misunderstanding the
outrages committed, the burning of towns
and the reconcentrado Filipino-must rest
upon those who have authorized and JUS
titled the policy of the government.
Mr.. Bacon read letter from an army
officer for whom he vouched and whom
he knew personally, describing in vivid
language a reconcentrado camp. The let
ter said this camp was located in a soggy
place where rain fell continually, and out
side of which every living thing was shot
In that camp there were thirty cases of
smallpox and five cases were added each
day Clouds of vampire bats circled over
the place awaiting the dead coming to
fhaV11 daN he car
suburb of hell q"
While a colloquy was in progress con-
corning the word ''reconcentrado" Mr.
Spooner indicated that it did not mean ia
the Philippines what ii meant under Span
ish rule in Cuba.
The senator from Wisconsin" sug-
gested Mr.. Carmack, wants TO American
lie the word as he has the policy it repre-
sents."
We'll" retorted Mr. Spooner. the sena-
tor from Tennessee is Whittier than he is
Mr.. Foraker said that Mr.. Bacon had
likened the concentration camps in the
Philippines TO those In cuba established
under General Weyler. He made compari-
sons of the camps to show that such was
not the case. The establishment Of these
camps, Mr.. Foraker said, was not an act
of brutality as had been charged, but an
act of mercy and kindness and a means
of protecting the people from the rowing
bands of banditti.
Mr. Foraker defended the action OF the
military authorities in establishing the
camps in the Philippines as wise and
proper as a means of protecting friendly
FiIipinos from assassination a the hands
OF rowing bands OF insurgents. He read a
description of the camps 10 show that
they were really camps OF instruction and
sanitation.
Mr. Hoar said everybody knew and it
was useless TO try TO disguise the fact
that il was difficult 10 get the army Of
ficers TO testify as TO matters which re-
iected on the administra ton OF a war
har- hra incl bod
from making such criticisms. They were
apt TO fear that their promotion, for
which they were constantly striving would
be affected.
Does the senator think?" inquired Mr.
Foraker. that IL is difficult TO get Ameri-
can officers 10 tell the truth in official re-
ports?
81 do not question the veracity OF these
men at ALL" replied the Massachusetts
senator He did not think IL fair. how
ever, that We should accept as conclusive
the evidence OF persons under investiga-
ton. He declared that the guerrilla war
fare in the Philippines naturally followed