New-York tribune., 1903-05-28
THE SILENCE OF HERBERT WELSH.

What has become OF AIr. Herbert Welsh?
He has not appeared III public since the col
lapse Of his recent movement to snow under
the administra ton with a storm Of letters de-
mandiDg the publication Of some already pub
lished reports. We had not supposed, how
ever, that, though lost TO sight, he was like
wise dead to the world. Yet from what one
Of our readers tells Us there is reason to fear
that he may have entered the sphere whence
correspondence comes only through spiritualist1c
mediums. Certainly there is something queer
when so interchangeable letter writer as Mr.
Welsh fails on invitation to continue a CORE
spondence begun by him. He has clearly got
beyond the power of the United States mails,
with the aid Of q return envelope. to elicit a
word from aim, and we advise the Philadel-
phia police TO send out an inquiry for his
whereabouts. One reader informs US that
after receiving a letter from Mr.. Welsh he
wrote him in reply on May 1S inclosing a
stamped envelope and asking an answer.
which. under the circumstances. seemed his
due. Though Philadelphia is only two hours
away, he has heard nothing for now nearly
ten days, and so, asking if Mr.. Welsh is lost
strayed or stolen, he sends US the letter, which
is as follows:
AM in receipt of your letter of May IA ask
ing me to write to the President calling upon
him TO publish General Miless report on the
Philippines. Inasmuch as General Miles for
the last five years has, is well known been
man with a grievance, and has on other ques-
tons taken an attitude which seemed to be die
tated chiefly by desire to make trouble
cure for himself the centre Of the stage, I should
not have expected that his report the Philip
pines would be so well calculated 10 serve the
country in general as the enemies OF the admin
istration who are less anxious 10 discover truth
than 10 discover pretexts for criticism. I notice
that your own eulogy of him ends with long
past Indian campaigns. Therefore, should not
have been inclined to think his report Of great
value. and, the other hand should have
pected it TO be filed with statements which the
Secretary Of War might wisely suppress in the
interests OF discipline. Certainly from the depth
Of my OWE ignorance OF its contents I should
not have presumed TO decide whether not the
report might wisely be published. and have tried
by clamor to force that ignorant Judgment upon
the President OF the United States
Moreover. since my attention has been called
TO the matter by your letter I have learned
that about two weeks previous TO your writing
the War Department gave out the whole of Cen
eral Miless report dealing with Philippine affairs
which in the first part of your letter you ask me
TO demand and in the last paragraph say has
been ''unexpectedly published in part" and add
"The recipient OF this letter should demand a
full copy Of that report"
II I ha6 done this, relying on your statement
should have been placed In the most ernbarrass-
ing position OF demanding from the President
II he were unfaithful official trying to hide
abuses facts which for weeks had been public
property. II seems to me that reformer who