The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-10
And an Orgy of Looting and
PIunder.
CHARGES BY CARMACK
He Strongly Criticizas the President and the
Secretary Of War in an Address on Con-
ditions Obtaining in The Philip
pines,
(By the Associated Press)

Washington, Feb. 9.-In the Senate to-
day Mr. Carmack spoke on the Rawlins'
resolution calling on the Secretary OF
War for the proceedings in certain courts
martial. He charged that murders IN
the Philippines by American soldiers had
become so common that they would not
bear investigation and that this answer
was entirely satisfactory ito our noble,
generous and humage Secretary of War.
He also criticised tie President for never
having heard of the Captain Brownell
case after having announced his inten
tion of probing crimes in the Philippines.
The best army that ever trod tic
earth, said Mr.. Carmack, could be sent
to a distant tropical land, but when It
became known that crimes will go un-
punished, awful consequences will ensue.
Just these consequences have existed, ne
said, and the charges have been met with
stoical and cynical Indifference. He as
serted that there was an organized sys-
ten of torture in the Philippines.
"It is a further fact" said Mr.. Car
mack, that though this was notorious
throughout the whole army it VISA con-
tinued for months and years. No effort
was made to suppress it, and no single
korturer was ever punished for ithe
crime 1t is fact that men Of high
character and standing, the representa-
tiyes of leading Republican Administra-
tion newspapers, went in person to the
commanding general and told him thac
they had not only seen a perfect orgy o.
looting and plumber but that they had
seen wounded prisoners butchered be-
fore their very eyes; and though he did
not deny it, he ignored it, 1t is further
true, that this fact was brought to the
attention of he Secretary of War in a
letter over the signature of Robert II.
Collins, the chief agent and representa-
tive of the Associated Press in the
Philippin Islands, and it did not sug
gest the propriety of an inquiry or any
investigation.
Murders by American soldiers in the
Philippines had become too common, he
said, to bear inestigation, which answer
he was entirely satisfactory ito our
noble and generous cnd humane Secre-
tary of War"
Courts martial II 'the Philippines hal
been travesty Cl justice he said. and
he cited the case of Lieutenant Preston
Brown, whom he charged with numbering
an unarmed end unresisting native
Filipino, and whose sentence of five years
had been mitigated by the President to G
nominal fine a-d slight reduction in
ranks.
To every wicked, vicious and depraved
ruffian in the army, he said the order
Of General Jacob Smith to kill and burn
in Samar meant that there was no law
no restraint and no punishment, and yet
the President calmly surveys the ruin
he has wrought, "and, like another great
imperialist, he is astonished at his own
moderation" He inquired how it hap
pened that the President, who had de-
clared his intention to probe crimes in
the Philippines, never heard of the Cap
tain Brownell case when Father August;n
was tortured until he died.
The President in a speech while gov
ernor of New York. had said that our
differences to the welfare of the people
of Alaska had made them prefer to an
nexation to Great Britain, and the same
condition would result if we showed like
indifference in the Philippines He de-
clared the F'ilipinos were starving. Tne
same vigilance that enables the President
to discover them ''as enjoying the great
est prosperity" he said, should cause
him to see that they are starving"
Time" he said in conclusion, will
demonstrate the folly of this business.
and he hoped it would find some cure "for
the blunder We have made.
Mr.. Kean spoke on the Statehood Bill
for a short time when he yielded to vari-
Gus Senators who INDUCED in debate
over the question of the inuence of the
Mormon church in politics. Mr.. Elkfns
also spoke at length in defense of the
claims OF New Mexico to Statehood
Mr.. Clay, of Georgia, declared an in
justice was being done the people OF
Arizona and New Mexico on account of
the statements made regarding their
Mormon population. At the present
time he said, there were but 800 Nor
mons in New Mexico and s. 500 in Arizona.
whlle according to the census of 1890
iuaho had 1892 and Utah 11S.201 He
peileVed 1t was wrong to charge the peo-
pic ol New Mexico with being repudia
'iohlsts, polygamists and ignorant If
gwen the opportunity, he said they
"ould present the Identical Constitution
prepared by them in 1889 declaring
against bigamy and polygamy.
After a brief executive session tbc
Senate adjourned until tomorrow