The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-30
SENATE WARNS UP
suTH's ORDERS IN sAMAR HOTLY
DISCUSSED.
THE CONDEMNATION SEVERE.
prPUBLICANS DISINCLINED TO
TALK ABOUT 1T.


There Was n Massacre at Fort Pill
Io,y-Mr. Teller Moves for a Com
mission to Arrange PeaSe with
FiIipinOs-Gen. Smiths COurtmnr-
,inI ordered, Said Mr.. Lodge, as
soon as Facts Became known.
Washington, April pa spirited
and at times heated discussion of the
Philippine situation occurred in the
Senate to-day. 1t -revolved around
the order alleged to have been issued
nv Gen. Jacob A. Smith to make the
Island of Samar bowling wilderness
and to kill all male inhabitants over
the age of 10 years. The debate took
wide range, however, and many
ponts were discussed.
When the Philippine bill was laid
before the Senate no senator was pre-
pared to deliver a set speech upon it.
Mr. Lodge of Massachusetts, in charge
of the measure, said he felt compelled
TO press it for consideration. His re-
marks drew the fire of Mr. Teller of
Colorado, who criticized the Republi-
cans for not participating in the dis
custom This precipitated the debate
and for more than two hours it con-
tinued.
During Mr.. Teller's remarks Mr..
Tilman of South Carolina said it was
reported that the government was
very polite to the warlike dattos of
Mindanao and observed that consider
alton was shown Mohammedans of
that island, while cruel treatment was
meted out to the Christians of Samar.
Discussing the alleged order of Gen.
Smith, Mr.. Teller said he understood
that Gen. Smith had tried to justify
his order by what is known as the
tom Ewing order" During the Civil
War by this order the population of
two counties in Missouri was deported
and the property destroyed. He was
proceeding to characterize the action
of the American army in the Philip
pines as most cruel and barbarous
when he was interrupted by Mr.. Spoon
er OF Wisconsin with the inquiry:
Fort Pillow Dragged in.
Does the Senator not remember Fort
Pillow"
What does the Senator mean by his
reference to Fort Pillow inquired Mr.
Carmack of Tennessee.
q had in mind replied Mr.. Spooner,
what has been considered massacre
of colored troops there"
Mr. Carmack insisted with some heat
that there was no massacre of troops
or killing of prisoners at Fort Pillow.
MI Teller was continuing his re-
marks about Gen. Smiths order, when
he was Interrupted by Mr.. Fairbanks.
L do not understand, said he, that
the government approves of Cen
Smiths alleged order. 1t has ordered
a courtmartial to try Gen. Smith"
Mr. Teller offered an amendment to
the bill providing for commission TO
be appointed by the President ana TO
consist of not less than seven or more
than fifteen persons to proceed to the
Philippines and try to secure lasting
peace between the United States and
the Filipinos, the United States to pay
the commissioners salaries of $4,000 a
year each and all expenses.
Mr. Teller continued his discussion OF
Cen Smiths order, which he said had
shocked the public mind in this coun-
try, regardless of party Affiliations. lie
said he would despair of our govern
ment if the people should not repudl-
ate such an order.
IT." said he, lit be true that he is
sued such an order, believe the oftl-
Ger ought to be dismissed from the SER
vice"
Senator Teller said he would despise
himself if he did not enter his protest
against such inhumanity as was evil
denced by the order of Gen. Smith.
In the records of all the great wars
since the Middle Ages" he said, you
cannot find such d disgraceful ana
wicked order as that issued by Gen.
Dell or 10y Gen. Smith,
smiths Order Was Unknown.
Mr.. Lodge said nothing was known
here of Gen Smiths order until it was
pleaded by Maj. Waller as a defense
for his action in Samar. AS soon as
Maj. Waller had pleaded that order as
his defense, the President himself had
erected that Gen. Smith be court
martialed. He said he did not know
whether the order of Gen. Smith was
verbal or written.
Senator Carmack said the evidence
indicated that orders of a very extreme
Character issued in the Philippines
We're being suppressed, not, he believed
by the War Department, but by the
mlntary authorities in the Philippines.
III calling attention to the report OF
the secretary of Batangas province
mat there had been so great mortality
N the province as to reduce the popu-
At0n from 300,0 900 to about 100000, the
mortality being due TO disease, Mr.
4Ilman inquired whether the PHILIPPINE
tommittee had Investigated that mat
ter
" hen informed that it had not, he
exclaimed:
Well, how long are we going to hold
On 10 this bag of cats? What benefit
- IL to the American people to pursue
ms Infamous policy?"
As the running colloquy continued
;:d[. Culebrso masked Mr.. Lodge if he
N'.U9fSed the order issued by Gen. Bell.
NO. replied MIR. Lodge. Il do not
eluoIse cruel methods of warfare. Gen.
SMITHS order is one which every
[1HeNcan should regret. On the sur
80 those orders seem to me to be re-
Voting"
why the Great Death Rate.
IN EXPLAINING the great mortality
S9-long the inhabitants of Batangas,
- Bacon of Georgia expressed the
,geHef that the disease among the ma
les had been caused by the laying
"9'e OF the province by war. Crops
&C. 60 oeen destroyed and the inhabit-
a.lS had been confronted almost by
e'Iu,dition of famine
~ wi teller, in conclusion, declared
ne ms government could not escape
eohdemnation of the world and of
"rg rlght-thinking man for this
tL.lserable. wicked attempt to compel
49,, people to accept our government
s'Aer they desire 1t or not"