The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-28
ROW IN SENATE
Breaks Ont Over Remarks Made
by Gen. Wheaton.


conduct of affairs in the Philippines
At times it became somewhat acr1mo-
NOUS. officers in the Philippines being
taken sharply to task for statements
attributed to them in dispatches from
Manila
Rising to a question of privilege
early in the session, Mr.. Dubois, of
Idaho, had read an Associated Press
dispatch from Manila in which General
Wheaton was quoted as criticising some
utterances of Prof. Schurman in a
speech delivered in Boston. Mr.. Du
bois thought the president, in the cir
cumstances, would be warranted in
reprin anding General Wheaton for his
utterances. He declared that such
comment upon the action of the sem
ate was outrageous and indecent,
and that the minority had had quite
enough of threats and blackmail.
The debate thus precipitated took
wide range Mr. Lodge, of MaSsachu
settS; Mr.. Spooner, of Wisconsin, and
other maintained that no newspaper
utterance ought to be accepted the
basis of a reprimand of any officer un-
less it were supported by an investiga-
ton, indicating the accuracy of the re-
port.
Rising to speak on the pending ques-
ton, Mr. Money, of Mississippi, deliv-
cred an extended speech, in the course
of which he went pretty thoroughly over
the whole Philippine question.
Mr.. Platt, of Connecticut, took sharp
issue with the Mississippi senator on
some of his conclusions of constitu-
tional law, contending that the United
States could not be expected to grant
independence to the Filipinos and to
relinquiSh all rights in the islands
merely because of the natives desire
for liberty.
Il think" said Mr. Dubois, introduce
ing the subject of the Wheaton criti-
cism, lin view of the statements in this
dispatch the president ought to repri-
mand General Wheaton and those Off
GERS in the Philippines who are criti-
cising the senate for its action or state
mentS regarding the Philippines.
Il don't know who General Wheaton
is, but he is probably some charity boy
appointed to West Point by senator
or representative and since supported
by the government Such remarks as
he is quoted as having made are, how
ever, outrageous and indecent
MIR. Lodge, of Massachusetts, sug-
gested that it would be wiseS to ascer-
tain before General Wheaton was rep
rimanded whether he actually made
the statements attributed to him. Gen
era1 Wheaton, he said, was an officer Of
ability and character and no hasty
action should be taken in such case
Mr.. Teller-"I don't think there is any
doubt that Gen Wheaton said what is
attributed to him."
Mr.. Lodge-t'There may be a great
deal of dCutl of it.
Mr.. Teller, continuing, said such sit
uat1on as had arisen was one of the
blessings growing out of the conditions
in the Philippines. A paddock, he
serted, was to be placed upon the mouth
of every man, congressman or private
citizen. and all criticism of the admin
istration's Philippine policy was to be
silenced. He referred to the criticism
of senators, who had antagonized the
administrations policy in the Philip
pines, declaring they had been charged
even with treason.
81 suppose" said he, that no senator,
after a while will be able to read on
this floor the Declaration of Independ-
ence without subjecting himself to a
charge of melting treason
He said that if Professor Schurman's
speech were published in the Philippines
it was known over there that he pro-
posed that the F'ilipinos ultimately
should have their independence.
Anybody" he asserted. who will
criticise the utterances in that speech
would criticise the Declaration of In
dependence if he dared to do so-''
Mr.. Lodge said Mr.. Teller's state
dependence was silly What Presi-
dent Schurman said in Boston did not,
in his opinion, concern the senate. The
only point was whether a general of
the senate. 1t did not appear from the
dispatch that Gen. Wheaton had re-
ferred to the senate a all He hsd Il
perfect right to comment upon Profess
Sor Sehurman's utteranceS if he wished
to- 1t would be most unusual bro
ceeding to assume that Gen. Wheaton
had made the statements CT edited to
him.
MIR. Carmack, of Tennessee, question:
ed the right of any officer of the Uni
ted States army to criticise either the
actions or the utterances of any private
citizen.
Mr. TiIman, of South Carolina, inter-
rIpted to say that the general COM
handing the army had been reprimand-
ed by the president for agreeing with
the admiral of the navy upon a ques-
ton which "an the people of the
United States were absolutely agreed"
Mr.. Carmack did not think that Mr..
Tillman'S interjection was entirely rele-
want.
Mr.. Hoar, of Massa chusetts. contend
ed that no unsupported newspaper re-
port on a matter of this kind had to be
deprecated the instructions of the Ma
Mia dispatch into the senate proceed
ings. He thought the whole matter
ought to be eliminated from considera-
ton, as he believed it entirely likely
that General Wheaton would be re-
proved if he had made any statement
he ought not to have made.
Mr.. Lodge said he desired to apologize
for referring to anything Mr.. Teller may
have said as silly" and pointed out
that the statement of General Wheaton
did not criticise the minority of the SEN
ate, but simply Professor Schurmaa.
He insisted that there was no DISPOSE
ton on the part of anybody to suppress
news or views. He instapced the cir
culation of a letter urging the soldiers
in the army of the Philippines not to
continue to serve.
WHO sent out that circular?" in
Quired Mr.. Jones, of Arkansas.
ut was sent out, l think" replied Mr..
Lodge, 'tby Edward Atkinson It urged
soldiers not to serve in the Philippine
war. The letter was widely circulated
and attracted attention."
Mr. Rawlins insisted that the suppress
sion of opinions and information was
so notorious that one could not depend
on the statements coming to the United
States from the Philippines. The Phil
ippine commission, he asserted, had ar
rogated to itself the functions of con-