The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-04-03
Presidents .yprOyal.
"Conc usions of the secretary of
war are herebv approved
THEODORE ROOS SVELT,
White House, Marcn 6, 1902"

Then follows the Ifsr OF 20 officers Of the
insurrectonary government who now hold
positions of trust under our government.
Subsequent Correspondence.
Following the letters of Lieut.. Gen. Miles
and that of Secretary Root in transmitting
the same to the president, is mass Of mat
ter consisting of reply from Lieut. Gen.
Miles received by Secretary Root, and
lengthy review by the latter covering prac-
tically the same points of objection made
In the first communication sent by Secre-
tary Root to the president disappearing
Lieut.. Gen. Miles proposal. In addition
Secretary Root brings out the following
point:
1.-THE reference in the memorandum to
the letter of Gov. Taft to the secretary of
war, dated February Z, 1902, is to letter
transmitting, for the purpose of an In
vestigation by the military authorities,
report by the civil governor of the province
Of Tayabas, containing in general terms
and without specifications or names, seri-
Gus charges against the military admins
tration in that province and against the
conduct Of the army generally in its rela-
tions to the civil government. This report
was on the 18th of February sent to Gen.
Chaffee with the following directions:
There Is so much contained in this re-
port rejecting not only upon officers of the
army, but the general conduct OF AFFAIRS
and the administration of the military
branch of the government, that the secre-
tary of war desires you to cause careful
inquiry to be made concerning these state
ments and If they be found true that the
necessary administrative and disciplinary
measures be applied to correct these evils,
and. also to make full report Of the in
vestigatfon herein directed as soon as pos
sible.'
Regrets Action of Miles.
"There has not yet been time for the
report to be made, and the direction for the
investigation can only just now have
reached Manila. 1t is to be regretted that
the officer Of the highest rank in the army
should assume the truth Of charges reflect
ing upon the credit of the army in advar ce
of the investigation which has been or
dered. and without giving Gen. Chaffee
upon whose particular command the
charges reflect, an opportunity to be heard
Gov. Tafts letter shows that the civil
governor OF the Philippines was unwilling
to accept the charges as true without ar
investigation.
A Motive Shown.
"As the lieutenant generals memoran.
DUN of March "a was not made until after
the introduction Of resolution In the house
of representatives calling for all CORE.
spondence and papers In the matter OF hi,
application to go to the Philippines, tn,
putting into those papers OF the specific
IClcicHCc 10 tuc lTduSmlIllnB INT
charges plainly evinces design to procur,
the publication of the charges. and Of thu
lieutenant generals acceptance thereof al
| true, In advance OF the Investigation o.
| their truth. and of report thereon by Gen
Chaffee. In the interest of good disciplin
| and effective service such a course is mucl
to be regretted. Such charges ought no
to be published against our countrymei
| whom we have sent to labor and fight un
der our nag on the other side Of the woyl,
before they can be heard In their own De
| tense.
(Signed) "ELIHU ROOT.
Secretary of War"
Presidents Strong Approval.
white House. Washington, March q
1902.
''The memorandum OF the secretary o.
| war Is approved as whole and as TO every
part. Had there been any doubt before a.
10 the wisdom OF denying Gen. Miles re
quest. these papers would remove such
doubt
lsirned, THEODORE ROOSEVELT"