The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-28
IRMY OF PHILIPPINES
BITTERLY ARRAIGNED
boswell and Root Scored For Trying to Shield
BarbarOuS Acts of Officers and Men.
inpsr8lsts Committee Sends Open Letter to President
Charge Army With Many Heinous Crimes.

erations excited In US as a people the
deepest Indignation, combined with the
most profound sympathy for those TINS
numerically dealt with.
When reSOrted to by our officials in
the Philippines. these camps are repre-
scented as a species OF recreation
grounds into which the inha bitants of
large districts rejOiced to be drawn.
and from which they departed with
sorrow
Reports to which we can, on the
other hand. refer. give of them ac-
counts not essentially different from
the accounts received of similar camps
established elsewhere
The letter quotes a communication
TO the senate by Secretary Root on
Feb H. in which Mr.. Root says:
The war in the Philippines has been
conducted by the American army with
scrupulous regard for the laws of civ
ilized warfare. with careful and gen.
uine consideration for the prisoner and
the nom combatants. with seif-restraint
and with humanity never surpassed. if
ever equaled, in any confiict, worthy
of praise, and rejecting credit upon
The American people"
Roast Root and Roosevelt.
These words" continues the letter
of sweeping commentator and IN
qualified endorsement were written by
the honorable secretary when all the
essential facts since brought to light
We're within his official cognizance.
You have given public assurance
that the secretary is more DESTROYS
than yourself. if possible. to probe to
the bottom every responsible allega-
ton of outrage and torture. to the end
that nothing be concealed and no man
be for any reason favored or shielded.
The draft on our credulity thus pre-
sented is large. but we accept your as
surance
Meanwhile. permit us to point out
that such very sweeping and some
what uncaIled for commentator and
approval. so far as we are advised, al
together unprecedented in character.
coming directly and in the mild state
of active operations from the fountain
( head of military authority. is scarcely
calculated to keep moral check over
acts OF an improper character by
subordinates.
II is ha~itaole to assure that the
pressure OF official business at the
time Of the communication referred TO
was such that the secretary failed to
recall what correspondence had been
brought to his notice. or fully to advise
himself as to what the files of his de-
partment might have to disclose.
Discredit to America.
such are certain of the conclusions
reached by us from as careful study as
has been in our power to make OF
facts thus far procurahle- We have
endeavored to supplement and perfect
| the evidence. but our efforts to that end
! have encountered obstructive embar-
| easements.
THE allegations we make are grave;
| the condition of affairs we describe
serious. As national record it is
discreditable.
The good name of the country is inn
pIicated as also is the professional
| character of officers of the army, some
J of them retired. many still in high
I command.
we stand ready to cooperate di-
/ rectly and in utmost good faith TO the
end that all offenders may be brought
/ to Justice and the guilty punished.
I'm this communication we have
made reference the personal applica-
/ ton of which is obvious and of record.
To those thus referred TO courts OF
| military inquiry are open; and, IL de-
manded. would doubtless be at once
1 accorded. Before such courts, II once
/ convened. we viii hold ourselves pre-
] pared to substantiate any or all
/ charges here advanced.
1.-THE oner Important Question.
/ I'VE nn0 OURSELVES tlAOuSh WIN ~ =
regret, compelled to take issue with
YOU on one important order.
I I'm your review of July IA you say:
! Almost universally the higher ofhcers
have SO borne themselves as TO supply
| the necessary check over acts or an
improper character by their suoordl-
! mates. we, on the contrary, nave
! found ourselves impelled to the oehei
! that the acts referred to were far more
! renerai-the decentralization morally
nerversive We hold ourselves ready 70
| direct YOUR attention TO concrete cases,
| tho investigation of which we woulo
demonstrates the following criminal acts
contrary TO all recognized rules ano
| usares of war. on the part OF the OF
| dcers and soldiers OF the United
States:
..First-Kidnaping and murder, IN
der circumstances of aggravated Dru-
tality-
.Second-Robbery-
.sThird-Torture. both OF men ano
women. and rape of the latter.
..Fourth-The infection of death or
o4ber narties. on the strength OF evil
dence ELECTED through torture