The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-01
Republicans Charged with "Smother-
ing" Information Regarding
the Philippines.
GARDENER NOT SUMMONED
BECAUSE HE Is SOON COMING HOME
WITH HIS REGIMENT.
Statement from Anti-ImperiaIfst At
kinson Read, Notwithstanding
Protest from Senator Lodge.

WASHINGTON, April SO-A resolution
offered in the Senate to-day by Mr.. Patter-
son, OF Colorado, directing the secretary of
war to order by cable Major Gardener
now in the Philippines, to come immedi-
ately to Washington to appear as wit
ness before the Philippine committee pre-
cipitated a warm discussion. The debate
continued for about two hours, considera-
bic feeling being manifested on both sides
of the chamber. The charge was made by
the minority that the majority of the COM
mittee was endeavoring to suppress facts
and information. This was denied by the
chairman, Mr.. Lodge, who said that any
such action would be inconceivably stupid.
All parties, he insisted, were anxious Tor
,the fullest information, but he and others
contended that it would not be advisable
TO cable to the Philippines for Major Gard
ener, as he was about to come home and
would be here in time to appear before the
committee. Mr.. Patterson and Mr. Car
mack urged that Gardeners testimony was
particularly important, and that it ought
to be had before action was taken on the
pending BILL The resolution finally went
over until tomorrow.
In the preamble to the resolution Mr..
Patterson declared that the Philippine
committee has decided by partisan vote
to refuse 10 ask that Major Gardener be
cabled to appear as soon as he could come
to the United States.
Mr.. McComas raised the question that II
was not proper to say that the committee
had divided upon partisan" lines.
Mr.. Allison. member OF the Philippine
committee, objected to the use OF the word
partisan" and said it was the misfortune
OF the majority of the Philippine committee
not to be able to bring the partisan NIL
nority into conformity with its views.
Mr.. Patterson said il was the desire of the
minority of the committee TO get Major
Gardener as a witness as soon as possible.
The effort was made in good faith, as he
was regarded a valuable witness.
Mr.. Allison said he was satisfied that
Major Gardener would reach Washington
long before Congress adjourned and there
would be ample time to get his testimony
III the regular course OF events without call
ing on the authorities to cable him to come
at once.
formation was being 'smothered" and he
demanded to know from Mr.. Lodge
whether he proposed Ito dragon the Sen-
ate into vote upon his measure.
Mr.. Lodge replied. laughingly, that he
wished he could dragon the Senate into a
vote on the measure, but Mr.. Tillman knew
he could do nothing of the kind lie De
lieved it would be preposterous for the
Senate 10 wait on single witness.
"Of course" said Mr.. Tillman, every
pine committee is to smother informal ton:
Mr. Allison pointed out that nobody OBJ
jected to the testimony of Major Gardener.
His regiment would leave the Philippines
soon. He intimated that Major Gardener
was particularly anxious TO be witness
and personally he was not IN favor OF deco
Eating him by ordering him by cablegram
| to come 10 this country III advance or MS
| regular time. If witnesses were TO be called
| fl ON the Philippines ii might be necessary
to get the views of the other thirty odd
oiol WI e
might be as valuable as those or Major
! Gardener.
| made by Major Gardener was so starting
| and important that the secretary OF war
| had endeavored to keep it from the Senate
! and from the American people. lie IN
/ sisted that unless the proposed resolution
/ were adopted Major Gardener surely would
not get to Washington before Congress ad-
! journed.
Mr.. Culberson explained that the minority
| of the Philippine committee especially de-
/ sired Major Gardeners testimony because
his statements had been challenged by
! Governor Taft and General Macarthur.
Mr. Lodge, the chairman, said that Major
! Gardener ought to appear before the com
mittee. Personally, he desired TO hear the
testimony before Congress adjourned. lie
! suggested, sarcastically, that Major Gar
dener was a particularly important witness
because he seemed TO agree In some re-
spects with the minority. If the testimony
| of one provincial Governor was desirable
! that of the thirty-odd more provincial Gov
ernors probably would be.
Has the senator suggested, interrupted
Mr.. Patterson, that the other Governors
be caled?"
al make the suggestion now" retorted
| Mr.. Lodge.
! jected to the calling OF no witnesses, ana,
! indeed, was willing that any witnesses
! should be summoned who could throw any
! light on the situation.
! Continuing, Mr.. Lodge said that the mi
! nority of the committee had suggested that
! Aguinaldo, Sixto Lopez, Mabini and some
! prisoners of war on the Island OF Guam,
/ H H Bray, an agent of the Filipino Junta
! at Hong-Kong, and two Associated Press
! correspondents, Mr.. Collins at Picking and
Mr.. Martin in Venezuela, be called as wit
! nesses. The committee had decided not
to call them for various reasons. The COM
| mittee thought the testimony OF Filipino
prisoners was not desirable: Bray was z
| British subject, and the two correspondents
were inaccessible. Admiral Dewey and
| General Anderson, he said would appear
as witnesses and the list of witnesses was
| Of sufficient length to occupy the committee
| until the adjournment of Congress.
| Mr.. Carmack said Major Gardener had
| made a grave accusation against military
| conduct in his province, and he believed
| the accusation demanded an Investigate ton.
| He insisted. however, that the ma jority OF
the committee was not eager to get infor-
| nation He then sent to the clerks desk
| and after some objection from Mr. Lodge
read synopsis of a statement which Mr.
Atkinson expected to have made to tn.
committee
The bill for the purchase of the Rose
bud reservation in South Dakota and the
sundry civil appropriation bill were con