The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-14
B0ARDMAN
AN EASY
MARK.
Fed on the Food He Denounced
as Unfit for Soldiers, and
Pronounced II Splendid.

. Washington, May 14.-George G..
Boardman, Kansas soldier recently re-
turned from the Philippines, was made
the victim yesterday OF a practical joke
played by Senator Dietrich OF Nebraska
and executed by him with the assist
ance of Senator Beveridge Of Indiana,
which had very disastrous effect upon
Mr.. Boardman's value as witness as to
conditions in the Philippines.
Last week Boardman testified before
the Philippine committee, having been
summoned by Senator Lodge, the chair
man, as a witness for the majority. He
gave some testimony more or. less i'm
portant to the effect that the American
army in the Philippines is all right and
that the only cruelties he had seen prac-
ticed were committed by natives, gen.
orally upon some OF their own asso-
ciates.
Yesterday Boardman. was called as a
witness by the minority, and as soon as
he opened his mouth IL was discovered
that a great change had come over the
spirit OF his dreams during the few days
interval.
Yesterday he could think Of nothing
bad enough TO say about the policy OF
the conduct OF the American army. Ev-
erything was bad. he said. and nothing
quite so bad as the way the soldier boys
were treated by their superior officers
and by the government at Washington.
The Filipino prisoners, he said, were
treated better than the soldier boys and,
becoming warmed up on the wrongs the
private soldiers were subjected TO, he
threw on the committee table two bat
tered tin cans. They were samples, he
said, OF the kind of stun that the United
States soldiers were forced TO eat in the
Philippine army. One can, he said. con-
tanned salmon and the other soup tab
lets.
All Of IL was, I'm Boardmans opinion,
UNIT TO be eaten, and he said the sol
diers rev9lted at IL. The salmon was
rotten. he said, although the can was
Theoretically sealed and he wanted TO
know why IL was the government fed
such stun to its soldiers.
The Republican members of the COM
mittee were very much astonished at
Boardman's change OF heart and Sena-
tor Beveridge even ventured TO insinu-
ate that he had been seen" by minori-
ty members OF the committee since his
first testimony.
Senators Patterson and Carmack bris-
tied up at this and wanted to know IL
Beveridge was insinmting things against
them. The Indiana senator stated that
when he had charges TO make he would
make them direct and not by insinua-
ton and peace was restored before the
committee adjourned.
Then IL was that Senator Dietrich
who is n member OF the committee, got
In his little joke He said to Boardman
that he would like 10 talk with him in
formally about matters in the Philip
pines. and asked IL he would not take
lunch with him and Senator Beveridge
In the senate restaurant. The Kansas
soldier was tickled almost 10 death and
promptly accepted the invitation.
delicious soup was served, afterward
n salmon salad. and Boardman could
hardly find fitting words i'm which to ex-
press his admiration for the fine quality
OF both. lie was particularly enthusias
tic in his praise OF the salmon salad.
IL reminded him strongly Of the kind
the government tried To make the sol
diers eat in the Philippines-because II
was so different The soup was proper
~ seasoned he said and just the thing
that would put vim into n soldier II he
could get II out in the Philippines. where
the boys had to eat canned slop.
At the conclusion OF the luncheon
Boardman again expressed his appre-
citation OF the bill OF fare and Senator
Dietrich told him, with twinkle In his
eye. that he was pleased TO hear him
praise what he had TO eat as IL was the
contents OF the two battered tin cans
thrown on the committee room table and
described as rotten and unfit for food.