The independent., 1903-06-04


ragged if a civil court were to punish
murder by so light sentence? YET
the president seems to have thought
five years labor too strenuous punish
ment for murder when committed by
an army officer. For the president
commuted that sentence to a slight
reduction in rank and nine months
vacation on half pay.
Another case which puts a strain
on our faith in the presidents siren
uousness in these matters, is that or
two native mayors who were whipped
to death, in Iaoag. The details OF
this atrocity are shocking to read,
and we need not wonder that those
terrible beatings. brought tears to the
ewes of some of the soldiers who wit
messed them. The officer response
bile for these outrages is Robert IL.
Howe. Has he ever been called -
account? Why not take the tesu-
mony of the village doctor who
dressed the wounds Of these Hnfor-
tunate victims? Instead of asking
Howe to explain the matter, or al
lowing an ex parte court to hush the
matter up, why not have commit
tee of well known citizens to take
the testimony of eye witnesses; why
not conduct this investigation In day
light, and allow the presence OF at
torneys to cross examine witnesses:
This would be an excellent opportun-
ity for the president to display those
strenuous qualities which he SO ire
auently lauds. But we are told that
this same Howe is friend OF the
president and that the favor OF the
president has secured him an ap-
pointment as major in the Porto
Rican regiment. l think something
other than shoulder straps should be
given the man who is guilty OF beat
ing to death helpless prisoners.
Then there is the case OF Richter,
an American soldier who was given
the water cure" until he died. The
officer who commanded the torture
which resulted in his death wrote the
boys mother that he died OF bron-
chitis. When the mother sought in
formation at the war department, they
told her that her son died OF appen-
dicitis. At last she learned the truth,
that her son was tortured to death
by his own officer and fellow soldiers.
A mysterious military trial was con-
Quoted in which the officer, for some
unknown reason, was acquitted. The
mother has made personal appeal
to the president asking that this case
be opened and thoroughly investl-
gated. Her petition has been ignored.
But | have not yet spoken Of the
most astonishing proof of bad faith on
the part of our public servants. There
are in existence sworn statements OF
witnesses which Senator Lodges
committee did not "have time" to in
vestigate, which statements give the
most explicit testimony concerning
the cold-blooded shooting OF prison.
ers at the battle CaloOcan. The war
department did essay to investigate
these charges. The military judge.
who was commissioned to begin the
| investigation by trying soldier by
| the name of Putnam, wrote:
eff put on trial, it is probable that
acts would develop duplicating many
others. l doubt the propriety OF his
trial"
General Otis indorsed this letter
and the war department dropped the
matter. If there was any honest in
tention to expose abuses and punish
offenders, that letter, confessing that
many others were implicated, would
have been the best possible reason TO.
pursuing the case. So the war de-
partment permitted one rascal to GO
unpunished for fear that Others might
be, discovered. If too many were dis
covered the fault would lie, not with
individual offenders, but with the
managers of the war. But 1t is prob
ably expecting too much of human
nature that the war department
should put itself on trial.
AS. an American citizen you and
have a right to the full text OF Gen
eral Miles report. We have a righ
to a copy of the reports Of all tn;
courts-martial up to date. My earn
est advice is that every friend of lib
erty write at once to Secretary Roo
and President Roosevelt, not begin:
as subjects, but demanding as citi
zens, that this information be fur
nished us, and further, that the cases
referred to- above be reopened and in
vestigated by such men, and undeI
such conditions, that there can be NJ