The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-30
sARRAIGNED BY TELLER
HE DECLARES THIS GOVERNMENT
SHOULD NOT ESCAPE CONDEMNA-
TION OF THE WORLD
TILLMAN MAKES AN INQUIRY
Wants to Know What Benefit 1t Is
to the American People to Com
tinue the Pursuit of a Poll
icy So Infamous.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April ga
spirited discussion in the senate today
revolved around the order alleged to
have been issued by Gen. Jacob A.
Smith to make the island of Samar a
howling wilderness and to kill all male
inhabitants over the age of ten years.
The debate took a wide range, however,
and many other points were discussed.
When the Philippine bill was laid before
the senate, no one was prepared to de-
liver set speech on it. Mr.. Lodge
(Mass.) in charge of the measure, said
he ft:< compelled to press it for con-
sideration. His remarks drew the fire Of
Gir. Teller (COl), who criticised the Re-
publicans for not participating in the dis
cUssion. The debate continued for more
than two hours. Mr.. Teller declared
trrdt Cen Smith, if he had issued such
an order as had been attributed to him,
ought to be dismissed from the service,
as it was a disgrace to the American
army and to the American people.
Mr.. Lodge Does Not Approve.
Mr.. Lodge said that while he knew
little of the circumstances surrounding
the alleged order he did not approve of
cruel methods in warfare, and every right
minded person must regret Gen. Smiths
order. To him, it was revolving. He de-
tended the administra ton, however, say
ing as soon as knowledge of the order
had come to Washington, the president
had directed that Gen. Smith be court
martialed.
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 the Civil war,
~ this order, the population of two
counties in Missouri was denorted and
the property destroyed He was pro-
ceeding to characterize the action of the
American army in the Philippines as
most cruel and barbarous when he was
interrupted by Mr.. Spooner (Wis.) with
the inquiry, Does the senator not re-
member Fort Pillow?"
What does the senator mean by his
reference to Fort Pillow?" inquired MIR.
Carmack CTenn).
Il had in mind" replied Mr. Spooner,
what has been considered a 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.
Mr. Teller was continuing his re
marks about Gen. Smiths order when
he was interrupted by Mr.. Fairbanks
Says Government Doesn't Approve.
Il do not understand said he, 'that
the government approves of zen.
Smiths alleged order. A court-martial
to try Gen. Smith was ordered as soon
as the information concerning the matter
reached Washington"
Mr. Teller replied that according to a
newspaper article, he had read to the
senate, the information had been in
Washington many months, but he knew
nothing about the matter himself
Mr.. Teller offered an amendment to tho
bill providing for commission to be ap-
pointed by the president and to con-
SiSt of not less than seven nor 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 1000 a year
and all expenses
Mr.. Teller said THAT if it be true that
Gen. Smith issued the alleged order he
ought to be dismissed from the service
In the records of all the great wars
since the middle ages" he declared, ''you
cannot find such a disgraceful and wicked
order as that issued by Cen Smith,
MI Lodge said nothing was known here
of Gen. Smiths order until it was pleaded
by Maj. Waller as defense for his ac-
ton in Samar. AS soon as Waller had
pleaded that order as his defense. the
president himself had decided that Gen.
\ Smith be court-martial6d. He said he
did not know whether the order of Gen.
Smith was verbal or written
Thinks Information Suppressed.
Mr.. Carmack (Tenn) insisted the evil
dence indicated that orders of a verv
Severe character issued in the Philippines
We're being suppressed, not, he believed
by the war department, but by the mill
tary authorities in the Philippines.
In calling attention to the report Of
the, secretary of Batangas province that
there had been so great a mortality in
the province as to reduce the population
from 100000 to about 100000, the mortal
1ty being due to disease, Mr. Till1nan in
quired whether the Philippine committee
had investigated that matter.
When informed that it had not, he ex-
claimed: We'll, how long are we going
TO hoa on to this bag of oats? What
benefit is it to the American people to
pursue this Infamous policy?"
As the running colloquy continued, Mr..
Culberson asked Mr.. Lodge if he indors-
ed the order issued by Gen. Bell.
No replied Mr.. Lodge, II do not in
dorse cruel methods of warfare Gen.
Smiths order is one which every Amer
lean should regret. On the surface these
orders seem to me to be revolving
Mr. Bacon (Ga.) expressed the belief
that the disease and great mortality
among the natives of Batangas province
had been caused by the laying waste
OF the province by war. Crops had been
destroyed and the inhabitants had been
confronted by almost a condition of fam
ine
Mr.. Teller, in conclusion, declared that
this government could not escape the
condemnation of the world and of everv
right thinking man for this miserable.
wicked attempt to compel these peo-
PIE to accept our government, whether
they desired it or not"
The house committee on military af-
fairs ordered favorable report on the res
oluuon Of Representative Burleson, of
Texas, requesting the war department for
coples of the orders, etc. to Gen. Jacob
H. Smith. relative to the campaign in the
island If Samar, Philippine islands. and
adopted the resolutions on the same suB-
tect.