New-York tribune., 1902-05-16
ATROCITIES THE TOPIC.
BITTER PHILIPPINE DEBATE
IN THE HOUSE.
THE ARMY ATTACKED AND DEFENDED
PERSONALITIES AND RECRlM-
NATIONS EXCHANGED.
lBr rrLrapArH TO THE rnInrNE.I

AaEnlngfOn
blazed up suddenly in the House to-day over the
Philippine question. Mr. Nandver QDem' MOI
a member Of the Committee on Naval Affairs
secured the floor to speak on the Naval Appro-
priation bill and took advantage Of his oppor-
tunity 10 abuse the army for its efforts 10 sup
press the insUrection in the Philippines lie
read a letter from a discharged corporal Of vol
unteers who had seen service in the Philip
pines. and also letter from the Editor of The
Irish World" testifying 10 the credibility OF the
ex-soldier The discharged soldiers letter con-
tained the usual accusations of cruelty on the
part of the army toward the natives. William
Alden Smith of Michigan, put number Of
sharp questions to Mr.. Vandiver, and soon the
House was in an uproar Of partisan excitement
The chief participants on the Democratic side
were Mr.. Eandiver and the eXcitable Mr.
Wheeler of Kentucky, who attacked Prince
Henry the Of his visit 10 the United
States and on the Republican side Messrs. W
A. Smith of Michigan; Hepburn, of Iowa; Hill
of Connecticut. Grow, Of PENNSYLVANIA, and
Lessler. Of New-York. Personalities and re
criminations were freely exchanged, and the
debate became so exciting that the Chair had
10 call the disputants 10 order several times.
MR. VANDIVER ATTACKS THE ARMY.
Mr.. Vandiver sent 10 the desk and had read
statement appearing in The Irish World"
signed by Corporal Richard O'Brlen, of Company
NJ 26th Volunteers. giving alleged details Of
atrocities in the Philippines. the killing of native
women and babes under circumstances Of un-
usual cruelty including the alleged use Of dunn
dunn bullets. Mr.. Vandiver read a letter from
Patrick Ford, Editor Of The Irish World" say
ing that. he had talked with O'Brien, who re-
affirmed the charges. and was ready TO make
affidavit to them 10 be forwarded to Washing
ton The charges were too horrible for belief
Mr.. Vandiver said. if they were not substantially
borne out by official reports Of outrages against
the natives
When Mr. Vandiver asked if any one in behalf
of the administration was ready to rise and de-
fend the atrocities by Ar erican soldiers on ma
tfves W. A. Smith retorted with an inquiry
whether any one the other side Of the cham
ber was ready to rise and defend the atrocities
of natives on American soldiers.
LIVELY PASSAGE AT ARMS.
An exciting passage followed between Mr..
Smith End Mr. Vandiver- The latter asserted
that atrocities neither on one side nor the other
were defensihle. Il have evidence piled noun
tain high" declared Mr. Vandiver, 'of cruelty,
extortion. torture, murder arson and every other
crime known TO the calendar"
That is false" exclaimed Mr. Smith, and
h hurl back the charge at the gentleman, and call
III upon him to produce the proofs, if he can"
The proofs are ample, and Will be presented"
said Mr. Vandiver.
The gentleman ought to be ashamed of him
self" interrupted Mr.. Smith. TO assail the
American army, seven thousand miles from
home"
Mr Vandiver replied that his respect for the
2 dictates of humanity greater than that for
soldiers guilty Of such cruelty. He proceeded
TO. read portions Of the testimony before the
Philippine Committee OF the Senate.
When he referred TO General Funston Mr..
Iandis Of Indiana, interjected the sarcastic in
CURRY 'Funston-that is the gentleman who
captured your old friend Emilio Aguinaldo?"
Yes" answered Mr.. Nandiver, and this
Emilio AgUinaldo seems to be great bugbear
10 the other side Of the chamber"
But all his eulogies come from that the
Democratic) side Of the chamber" answered
Mr.. Landis
Soon afterward Mr.. Vandiver became engaged
in warm colloquy with Nr Hamilton. of
Michigan, who demanded TO know how stable
government was going TO be maintained without
soldiers There was considerable confusion. and
the Chair had TO rap vigorously for order.
FILIPINO BARBARITY DESCRIBED
Mr. Hill. Of Connecticut, made spirited re-
5oinder TO Mr.. Nandivers speech, severely ar
raigning the Missouri member and the minority
on the ground that parte case was being
presented. Il came into the hall" he began
while the gentleman from missouri was pOi-
traying the outrages that had been perpetrated
by the American soldiers upon the Filipinos, and
] regretted very much TO hear il. I had hoped
that there would be monopoly Of that kind
of talk elsewhere. and that should not have
in the House Of Representatives. the maligning
and sIandering of the American army while in
the performance of its duty"
Mr.. Hill told Of a visit he paid to General
Smiths headquarters in the Philippines. =
found the department Of General Jacob II.
Smith" he said. in peace and quietness. and
yet while that condition existed this incident
actually occurred: A company Of Tagaogs,
Flipnos the Filipino army. if you choose to
call it such descended on village of peaceable
Flipinos, who chose TO carry on their regular
business pursuits in peace and quetness. and
destroyed that village. numbering men, women
and children: and if the gentleman from Mis-
souri, desires 2 specimen Of barbarity. / want
10 tell you what they did to loyal Filipinos and
Americans They took and tied them to
anthiIls. six eight ten feet high and six
feet in diameter filled with ants that are abso-
lutely ravenous, and eat up everything they
come in contact with They tied these men to
anthllls and allowed them 10 be eaten to death
by ants. They buried them in the ground up to
their necks. and allowed them To be pecked 70
death by the birds and eaten by the ants They
took loyal FiitinOs and loyal Americans and
cut them open in the abdomen taking out a
portion Of the bowels and mailing 1t To a tree