Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-26
ATTACK ON Mr., ROOT
Anti Imperialists Make
Grave Charges.
CONDUCT OF THE WAR
ACCUSED OF DECEPTION IN HIS
STATEMENTS.
Long Review Of the Alleged Inhu-
manities in the Philippine
Campaign.

The New England anti-imperialist COM
mittee. Of which Mr.. Charles Francis Adams
Is chairman, made public in Boston last night
an elaborate review of the Philippine stu
alton. which has been prepared by Mr..
Moorfeld Storey, counsel for the commit
tee. The point Of Mr.. Storey's argument Is
that the responsibility for the conditions
in the Philippines does not rest primarily
with our soldiers and officers In the island.
but with Secretary Root. The document
purports to be a review of the history Of
army management in the Philippines. from
the time the United States occupied the
islands to the present. ut is entirely
based" the review asserts, upon official
and authentic evidence, and it's statements
are supported at every point by citations
of the reports of commanding officers. or Of
unimpeached testimony given before the
Senate Philippine committee. None of the
disputed allegations Is relied upon. The
whole discussion is intended to leave no
loophole for charges of vagueness, or of
the use of information of questionable au-
thenticity.'
The Indictment.
mo one can read this record without
seeing
Il. That the first impulse of the authori-
ties was to punish the soldier whose true
statement led to the investigation.
80. That the attempt was made to have
an investigation where the witnesses could
not be had, so that it would be possible to
claim that no evidence was found to prove
the charge, when. in fact no real attempt
to investigate was made.
%. That the most serious charge was not
Investigated at ALL
Deliberate evasion and conceament is
then attributed to Secretary Root, the
charge being supported by evidence chro-
nologically drawn from official documents
On the strength of these it is argued that
only by supposing Mr.. Root grossly ig-
norant of his duty as Secretary Of War
can he be relieved of the charge of de-
ception.
The Killing Of Filipinos.
In the course of the argument it is main
tained. from an elaborate comparison Of
STATISTICS of the killed and wounded in
our own and foreign wars, that the butch
cry of the wounded Filipinos was not
sporadic, but was general custom in our
army. Mr.. Storey also reviews the evil
dence already cited concerning the use of
torture by officers and soldiers and by the
Macabebes for the purpose of elicfting In
formation He considers 1t conclusive.
From elaborate discussion of the rules
laid down in general order No. 100. COM
pared with the orders of General Bell and
others, the point is made that the mode of
warfare pursued by the United States in
with the usages of civilized combat. In
no view of the case, thinks Mr.. Storey, can
1t be claimed that the plan of reconcentra-
ton, with its attendant burnings of houses
and property, and it's necessary accompani-
ment Of determination for all those found
outside Of the protected zones, is justifiable.
Review Of the Record.
At the close OF the pamphlet the case
against Secretary Root is summed up in
the following language:
From this review Of the record certain
things clearly appear:
81. That the destruction of Filipino life
during the war has been so frightful that it
cannot be explained as the result Of ordi-
nary civilized warfare.
General Bells statement that one-sixth
of the natives Of Luzon-that is some 500
600 persons-had been killed or died of
dengue fever in the first three years of the
war Is evidence enough on this point, es-
pecially when coupled with his further
statement: ---.
1.-The loss of life by killing alone has been
very great, but 1 think not one man has
been slain except where his death served
the legitimate purpose OF war. 1t has been
thought necessary to adopt what in other
countries would be thought harsh meas
ures, but which Secretary Root calls meas
ures Of marked humanity and magma
nimity.
so. That at the very outset Of the war
our troops were ordered by some officers to
give no quarter, and that no Investigate ton
was had because 1t was reported by Colonel
Crowder that the evidence would implicate
many Others General Otis saying that the
charge was not very grievous under the
circumstances.
80. That from that time one, as is shown
by the reports of killed and wounded and
by direct testimony, the practice continued.
~. That the War Department has never
made any earnest effort to investigate
charges of this offense or to stop the prac-
tice.
20. That from the beginning of the war
the practice of burning native towns and
villages and laying waste the country has
continued.
This was the inception Of a policy that
was pursued till Samar was made a howl
ing wilderness
20 That the Secretary of War never
made any attempt to check punish this
method of war.
81. That from a very early day torture
has been employed systematically to obtain
information
No One Seriously Punished.
"s. That no one has ever been seriously
punished for this, and that since the first
officers were reprimanded for hanging up
prisoners no one has been punished at all
until Major Glenn, in obedience to an i'm
perative public sentiment. was tried for one
Of many offenses, and received a farcical
sentence.
80. That the Secretary Of War has never
made any attempt to stop this barbarous
practice.
10 That from the time when General
Otis advised a court-martial Of Bremen
for giving the information which led to an
investigation until the Secretary proposed
that General Miles be retired for giving the
clew which led to the publication Of Major
Gardeners report-and Major Gardener is
harried for making 1.-THE zeal Of the War
Department and Of Mr.. Root has been dis
played against the accusers and not against
the criminal