The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-28
THE REAL CONDITIONS
ANTI-IMPERIALIST WRITE LET
TER TO PRESIDENT.
SOME SEVERE CHARGES MADE
SECRETARY ROOT PUT IN AN UN-
PLEASANT LIGHT.

the ImperiaIist Committee Re-
views the Manner in Which the
Actual Condition of Affairs as Re
Iating 40 the Conduct of the Army
in the Philippines Has Been Smoth-
cred over by the President and His
Chief Authorizations Charges
Are Made and an Opportunity Ask
ed to Prove Them.
Lake George, N. Y, July 27.-At a
meeting of representative anti-impe-
rialists held in New York city last
spring, a committee was appointed to
investigate army conditions in the
philippines. That committee since
then has been prosecuting it's inquiries.
President RoOseVelt's recent review of
the court-martial of Gen. Jacob H.
Smith seemed to the committee to de-
mand some reply, and at a meeting just
held at Lake George. an open letter
TO the President was adopted. The
letter was signed by Charles Francis
Adams, chairman; Carl Schurz, Edwin
Burritt Smith. Moorfield Storey and
Herbert Welsh. 1t says:
ton afforded us by your review of
the 14th instant as Communicated chief
of the findings of the court
martial IN the case of Gen. 7. H.
Smith. Taken in connection with the
previous memorandum of April 18th
that review will, provided it be follow
ed by corresponding general action, in
our opinion, do much toward the re-
establishment of the national prestige
and the restoration of the morale of the
army. Especially opportune, in our
Judgement, is your very commendable
reminder to officers in high and res
ponsible positions that in warfare
with national dependents, such as that
recently Waged by us in the East, it
behooves all such officers to be 'pecul
iarly careful in their bearing and con-
duct so as to keep a moral check over
any acts of an improper character by
their subordinates.' The level here
reached is lofty and in healthy con-
trast with that spirit, far too prevalent,
which finds Justification for excuses
of the present in every instance of
humanity which can possibly be ex-
hunIed either from colonial history or
from the regrettable records of our
Indian warfare.
Getting To The Point.
while. however, expressing our
sense of obligation we wish most re-
spectfully to call your attention to GER
tain conclusions which we have in the
course of our own inquiries found our
selves compelled to reach. Coming di-
rectly to the point, and speaking his
tOrcally, our Investigations have led
us to conclude that the generalization
Of the officers and soldiers of our army
in the Philippines, including all
branches of the service, and all grades
of rank was far more general, as we'll
as pronounced than might be inferred
from your review of the court-mar-
tial findings in the case of Gen. Smith.
The essential facts charged in this
case we believe we have reason to
say, We're rather more curious than
exceptional. Demoralizing influences,
very prejudicial to any high standard
OF military morale, We're, under the
circumstances, inevitable This led to
lamentable results, calling for the
firm hand and stern correction found,
and most fortunately applied, in your
orders of April Is and July IA.
Meanwhile, we would respectfully
submit that the good of the army and
The future of our Eastern depended
cies demand that investigation should
not stop ut this point, or with results
a committee have made, necessarily
imperfect, have yet been sufficient o
satisfy US that Gen. Smith and Maj.
Waller We're not the sole culprits, nor
should they suffice in the character of
scapegoats.
Only One Side Heard.
I'm your review of July IA you say
that these cases were exceptional.
Your means of information on this
polEt should unquestionably be in
initely better than ours. Meanwhile
mind shat one side OF
this painful story has been heard, and
that side only in part. The testimony
of representative F'ilipinos has been
]ealously and systematically suppress
ed. Judicial and impartial eXamina-
ton on the spot has been denied or
pronounced impracticable. In the
present case, occasionally and by ac-
cldent merely. have fragments of in
formation come to general knowledge
broken slimpses only have been per-
mitted to reach the public eye. To our
minds they indicate Enthusiastically a
condition of great and general demor-
aIzatfon. OF this the findings of the
oourt-martial referred to afford con-
hshed orders of commanding officers,
and the reports of provincial govern
ors."
The letter then discusses the kill
and burn" order and says:
AS the not unnatural result of mil
Nary operations so inspired, an Off
cal report indicates that. out of a
1otal population in a single district of
ooO, 900, not less than 100000 perished.'
The letter then alludes to the water
cure, saying that the first reports of
us practice met with denials while
evidences before the Senate Philippine
Committee proved conclusively that
ms AID other forms of torture had
been used, and adds:
Where inquiry revealed the syste-
matte use of torture by subordinates
the officer in responsible command is
pronounced free from blame on the
ground that his praiseworthy absorp-
uon in other duties of his position was
so complete that such trivial incidents
Jailed to attract his notice. Such a
Hhdlng is certainly suggestive.
Practice to XIII wounded.
Finally, every severity known to the
state of war-practices which have eX-
cited the special reprobation of the
american people when reported as
ieatures of the hostlities in Cuba I'M
uer the Spanish regime. or in South
Nlflca during the Boer war-haVe
peen of undisputed and frequent oc-
urfence in the Philippines. From the
afly beginning of operations there II
mas been the practice, if not actually