Evening star., 1902-01-23
GEN. HOWARD Talks.
His Interest in The Chinese Exclusion
Bin
oPPoRfUHlfYfo SfVpT THE QUESTION
Great Commanders of the Civil
War Now Living.
III S OWN N C A r E E r

III I S OW N C A r E E r
General o. Q. Howard, one of the most
picturesque characters in the civil war,
and who besides General Schofield Is the
only commander of an independent army
now living, Is in Washington for a few
days in the interest of opposing the Chinese
exclusion law, which is pending in Con-
gress He appeared before the Senate COM
mittee today and gave his reasons for op-
posing the act.
L came to Washington first to accom-
modate some friends and to see the Presl-
dent on a matter which we thought that
We could not give out, leaving him to do
so according to his judgment" the seli-
eral said to an Evening Star reporter in
his apartments at the Ebbitt this forenoon.
While here I was invited to come back
from an engagement at Yonkers. N. Y, the
committee on immigration Of the Senate de-
string me to be present with the numerous
delegations.
Il was present before the COMMITTEES on
tuesday, and remained two hours listening
to most able presentation of the QIes
tions touching on the Chinese exclusion
law. said privately to Senator Penrose
OF PENNSYLVANIA. chairman Of the commit
@ee' theaI Hau HedTu my views eAl'ISSS>o
SO plainly and so exhaustively by Mr.
N1ckerson OF Boston that l thought that
the committee would not need any optuion
of mine or testimony. But tie said he
mittee want I'd a full hearing on the differ
ent points of view. Because of this shall
return to the committee this morning."
Will you attend any public meetings in
Washington? General Howard was asked
Yes; next Sunday afternoon at o'clock,
l believe number of friends are to dis
cuss before a public assemblage IN the
First Congregational Church. 10Th and G
streets, the moral and religious aspects Of
the questions that are touching the Chi
nese in America. The remarks may take
even wider range. The pastor of the
church, the Rev. Stephen Newman. DID,
former Senator Thurston of Nebraska, NJ.
Simon Wolf and myself have asreed to
make short addresses on that OCCASION.
Cause of Interest I'm Chinese Question.
General, what has led you to taxi. such
special interest in the Chinese question:
Il was stationed for six years and over
in Oregon and Washington. commencing
in 1874; also in San Francisco from 1885 to
1888. I was one year in Arizona and was
stationed four years in command of the de-
partment of the 4latta with headquarters
Chinese during those periods. 1t was dur
ing that time thS Chpamen were driven
out Of the villagsN alo4g the Pacific coast
by mobs. and it was Rock Springs, in
my department. where so many Chinamen
were murdered by other foreigners who
purported to be- etizsns OF the Uuited
States. After 1 returned east l spent one
winter on the Pacific ebast. travelling con-
siderably, and tins last fall visited Port
land, Ore, twice and the cities of San
Francisco, Sacrarnento and Monterey, Cal.
AS you may suppose l have very many
friends there who are deeply Interested in
the subject and particularly many among
the Cinnamon thsmselSes who L knew by
name and with whose families I am ac-
quainted Some of the best of them who
have long been in this country entIcated me
to do what I could to relieve them from
constant suspicion, arrest, imprisonment,
Iardshps and crtelties that have grown
up under the exclusion law; whi-h. fortu
nately terminates the coming spring.
said l would do all 1 could properly Go.
This was the initiation of my looking into
the matter more thoroughly than l had
ever done before. OF course, W. cannot, as
a government, afford TO treat with intus-
tice and cruelty any lace of people. am
confident that any legislation that may
no further than the carrying OIL. of our
treaty obligations until the expiration
of the present treaty i'll 1904. t is better
| should say no more specifically before
go to the committee
General Howard, who is nearly seventy
two years old. is younger in appearance
than many men decade his Junior. He has
been good to himself, and enjoys perfect
health. For many years he has been in
terested in Christian work throughout the
United States, and he enjoys the esteem
and love of the people of the entire coun-
try, which he for many years served in
a responsible capacity
Living Commanders I'm Civil War.
Tell me-" The Star reporter asked, chow
many commanders of independent armies in
the civil war are now liV1ng?
LAS 1 count them up the general re-
piled, from Generals Scott, Mcdowell, Nc
Clellan, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and
others down to include myself and General
Logan, there were twenty-seven such COM
manders. and of them L do not know of
more than two living, Lieutenant General
Scofield and myself. So We are getting
rather lonely
Did YOU say independent commanders of
armies? Did that include corps command
ers?"
mo; I did not so intend. OF course,
Scofield and myself commanded army corps
before being assigned each to an army and
corps commanders on the Union side in the
civil war. OF them only ten are living. AS
l recall them. there are Sickles of the Sd
Corps Stanley and Thomas John Wood of
the 4th Corps Wilcox of the 9th Corps
Siegel, Carl Schurz and Stahl of the 11th
Corps; Granville NJ. Dodge Of the 10Th
Corps, 'Baidy' Smith and General Alexan-
der Mcdowell McCOok."
''Win you kindly give me the schedule of
your commands. general?' the reporter
asked
General Howard. the empty sleeve of his
coat suggesting the service to his country.
settled back in his chair and said, re-
luctantly:
His Various Duties.
II was assistant professor at West Point,
having been in the army eleven years when
called to the command OF regiment as
colonel at the breaking out of the civil war.
1 came from Maine and l was in the ca
pacity of colonel for THREE years. had the
Maine bridage coupled with the I'd Vermont
Regiment at the first battle of Bull Run.
had a larger brigade later and became a
brigadier general son the Sd of September,
1861, under General Edward B. Sumner
Il remained in that position until after
the battle of Fair Oaks. where 1 lost my
arm. Returning 10 the service, / had an
other brigade, the I'd Brigade of the ID
Corps in SedgwiciS's sdivision, and sue
ceeded to the division after Sedgwicks
wound at Antietam. In the spring of 1868
7 was given the command of the 11fh Army