New-York tribune., 1902-05-07
ARMY CRITICS REBUKED.
SARRAIGNED IN THE SENATE
By Mr.. BEVERLDGE.
DISTORTION OF TESTIMONY AS TO
PHILIPPINE ATROCITIES CHARGED
AGAINST THE DEMOCRATS.
tsr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]


Washington, May 6.-The wholesale effort Of
pertain Democratic leaders in the Senate TO
sully the honor of the American army was SUBJ
5ected this afternoon TO another severe arraign-
ment-this time from the Junior Senator from
Indiana Mr.. Beveridge Mr.. Beveridge is a
member Of the Philippine Committee and has
listened TO the great mass of testimony given
before that committee on the conduct of Amer
scan military operations in the Philippines. He
expressed some natural surprise therefore at
the distortion of that testimony which has been
tindulged in by Democratic assailants of the
sarmy's discipline and humanity. Isolated cases
sof reprisal, he complained had been exploited
for the purpose of obscuring the real record,
(which, so far both insurgents and pacificos
hare concerned, has been in the main of
rreditabie forbearance in the face of many temp
tations TO indulge in retaliatory seventies. Mr..
Beveridge developed part Of this unexpected
record, and gave notice that on later date he
would pursue the same issue in greater detail.
THE TORTURE OF SERGEANT O'HERNE.
Mr.. Beveridge addressed the Senate to correct,
As he said, an unintentional misstatement made
by Mr.. Rawlns, of Utah. concerning the ap-
plicasion Of the water cure TO Fiipinos who
had burned Sergeant O'Herne to death. He
read from the testimony TO show that Mr.. Raw
ains's statement not accurate.
Mr.. Hoar inquired if it fact, proved by
Testimony. that American soldiers had tortured
Fiipinos until they had confessed TO the COM
EMISSION Of crime.
Mr.. Beveridge said 1t had been proved that
She water cure" had been administered in the
dreadful OHerne case BY the confession of
the Fllipinos TO whom the water cure" had
been given 1t learned that O'Herne had
been burned to death over slow fire. and that
his body had been hacked to pieces. The con-
session of the Fflipinos included the location
of OHerne's remains. Investigation disclosed
Shose remains, which were identified.
WAS this murder proved by any other testi-
tnony than that given in the testimony OF the
tortured Fiiipinos?" inquired Mr. Hoar.
Not that I know Of" replied Mr.. Beveridge,
srbut that evidence was conclusive"
Mr. Beveridge and Mr.. Patterson became in
yolved in a spirited colloquy over the treat
snent Of the Filipinos by the American soldiers,
which was interrupted by Mr.. Carmack, say
Eng: The conduct of American soldiers in the
Philippines was uniformly kind wherever it was
permitted to be so. In cases where it was other
wise they were driven to the crueties by their
superior officers"
Mr Beveridge said he was glad at this late
date TO hear an apology for attacks made on
the American soldiers. and inquired if Mr.. Car
mack could mention more than single instance
where an officer had ordered the administration
of torture to a Filipino.
, Mr.. Carmack replied that he had not referred
10 any special order but the general orders of
Generals Bell and Chafee indicated that, in the
opinion of those officers, the American troops
were treating the Filipinos too kindly.
Mr.. Beveridge ridiculed this answer Of Mr.
CarTnack. declaring that when he asked him a
direct question he replied in diaphanous way Of
the orders of Bell and Chaffee. The minority
Senators he said, should con1ne themselves to
the record as made, and in connection with the
instances of cruelty which all bitterly regretted
they should in justice show that the Filipino
prisoners had received the same food, the same
medicines and had been attended in the same
hospitals by the same nurses the American
soldiers.
MR.. RAWLINS REPEATS CHARGES.
Mr.. Rawlins contended that every statement
he had made in his discussion of this question
was essentially accurate. He discussed the
oHerne case. and said that the impression he
had received from the testimony that the
Filipnos had been induced TO make the con-
fession suggested TO them by the administration
of the water cure" He resented Mr.. Bev-
eridge's imputation that the minority was ar
raigning the American soldiers. Mr.. Rawlins
said that outrages in the Philippines were due.
not to the soldiers themselves but TO the highest
military authorities IN the islands. The re-
sPonsiblty for them, indeed was 10 be placed
properly at the door Of the administration Off
cials here in Washington Until recently" said
he Il had thought that these things were
sporadic and isolated, but have been forced to
the belief that they but part Of the gen
eral plan OF campaign
Mr.. Rawlins said victim tied down
by American troops. sugar was placed on his
head to attract the voracious ants common in
those islands and he forced to give infor-
nation. He declared that women and innocent
children had been put TO death ruthlessly by
American troops.
Mr.. Beveridge read at some length from the
testimony taken before the Philippine Commit |
tee 10 show many acts Of unusual kindness to
Filipino prisoners by the Americans.
MR.. TURNER DENOUNCEs GEN SMITH |
Bfr. Turner spoke the bill He declared II
unwise, unpatriotic. cruel and inhuman TO at
tempt TO make the Philippines permanent part
Of the territory of the United States.
He criticised the refusal of the Committee on !
Major Gardener and others. He would feel con- |
strained, he said. if the present methods of the
Philippine Committee continued to declare /
that it does not want the truth, but that II is |
determined 10 stFange the truth as ''our armies
under the compulson Of superior authority are |
strangling liberty in the Philippines" If any
Senator asked Mr.. Turner, had conceived at |
the time the treaty with Spain was pending that