Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-07-31
THEIR SIDE SHOWN.
n, Anti-Imperialists Publish an Open
| Letter to the President
The CONDITION IN The PHILIPPINES.
Practices OF the Spanlards In Cuba and
Features In the Boer War, Which Ex.
cited Indignation in America, Re-
sorted to by Our Army.

sorted to by Our Army.
Lake George, N. Y, July 2S.-At a
meeting of representative anti-im-
perialists held in New York city last
spring committee was appointed
to investigate army conditions in the
Philippines. That committee has
since then been prosecuting its in
quiries. President Rooseyelt's re-
cent review of the court-martial Of
Gen. Jacob H. Smith seemed to the
committee to demand some reply,
and at meeting just held at Lake
George an open letter to the presi-
dent was adopted 1t says in part
"We desire to express the gratif-
cation afforded us by your review
OF the 14th inst, as commander-in-
chief, Of the findings Of the court
martial in the case Of Gen. J. II.
Smith. Especially opportune, in our
Judgment is your very commendable
reminder to officers in high and re-
sponsble positions that, in a war
fare with national dependents, such
as that recently waged by us in the
east, it behooves all such officers
to be peculiarly careful in their
bearing and conduct as to keep o
moral check over any acts of an i'm
proper character by their subordi-
Mates
Coming directly to the point, and
speaking historically, our investiga-
tons have led us to conclude that
the decentralization Of the officers and
soldiers Of our army in the Philip.
pines, including all branches of the
service, and all grades of rank, was
far more general, as well as pro-
nounced, than might be inferred from
your review Of the court-martial
findings In the case Of Gen. Smith"
The letter then discusses the "ldll
and burn" order and says: "As the
not unnatural result Of military oper.
atoms so inspired, IN official report
indicates that, out Of total popula-
ton in single district Of 100000,
not less than 100000 persisted"
The letter then alludes to the
water cure, saying that the first re-
ports OF its practice met with de-
mails, while evidences before the SEN
ate Philippine committee proved con-
clusively that this and other forms
of torture had been used and adds.
"Where inquiry revealed the sys-
tematic use of torture by subordi-
mates, the officer in responsible com
mand Is pronounced free from blame
on the ground that his praiseworthy
absorption in other duties of his
position was so complete that such
trivial Incidents failed to attract his
notice. Such finding is certainly
suggestive.
FINALLY, every severity known to
the state Of war, practices which
have excited the special Reproduction
of the American people when report
ed as features of the hostlities in
Cuba, under the Spanish regime, or
In South Africa, during the Bocr
war, have been of undisputed occur
renee in the Philippines, From the
early beginning Of operations there
II mas ocen the general practice, II
not actually the order, to kill those
wounded in conflict.
I'm like manner as respects CON
centration camps, These, as fea-
ture in recent Spanish and South
African operations, excited in us as
people the deepest indgnaton
combined with those thus unmerci- |
fully dealt with. When resorted to |
by our officials in the Philippines
these camps are represented as
species of recreation grounds, into
which the inhabitants Of large dis
tricts 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
camps established elsewhere
ave find ourselves, though with
deep regret, compelled to take issue
with you on one important point
IN your review of July "A you say
almost universally the higher Off
GERS have so borne themselves as to
supply the necessary check over acts
of an improper character by their
subordinates. We, on the contrary,
have found ourselves mpelled to the
belief that the acts referred to were
far more general-the decentralization
more all-pervasive. We hold our
selves ready to direct your attention
to eases the investigation of which
would demonstrate the following
criminal acts, contrary to all recog-
nlzed rules and usages Of warfare,
on the part Of the officers and SOL
diers Of the United States: I, kid.
mapping and murder, under circum-
stances of aggravated brutality; 2,
robbery; 3, torture, both of men and
women, and rape of the latter; 4,
the infection of death on other par
ties, on the strength Of evidence
ELECTED through torture"
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