The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-11-04

"In order to please a few admirers
he Parker decided the destiny and i'm
periled the welfare of several millions of
people without regard to the facts or CON
siderng the consequences. He accuses
President Roosevelt Of reckless speaking,
but Roosevelt never made half as reck-
less a speech. Judge Parker demonstrate
ed with his own tongue that he is not fit
to exercise the authority and assume the
responsibilities of the presidency.
II is either a demagogue without
conscience or else the victim of malici-
GUS enemies or foolish advisers. The
statements he utters are so false and
absurd and ridiculous that he deserves
more pity han blame. For example. he
tells us that We have wasted over $3.50
100000 of the peoples money and sacri-
feed over 100000 lives in the Philip
pines, Mr.. Bryan, Mr.. Hill and several
other gentlemen have asserted that the
Philippines have cost the people Of the
United States 5000. 600 600. Mr.. Olney
put the figure at 100000, 600. Judge
Parker splits the difference. 1t would
be interesting to know where he gets his
figures.
"A resolution was introduced in the
Senate in the spring Of 1902 inquiring
of the War Department as to the exact
amount Of money expended for military
purposes in the Philippine Islands from
May /, 1898, and a detailed statement
was then submitted by the Secretary OF
War which foots up $17O.326.5 S6.11
The principal items are as follows:
Quartermaster's department ....$74,344,3 1896
Subsistence department ......... l23221
ray department .............. 63,926, 262
MEDICAL department ............ 3,s7S.156
Ordnance department ........... 4,sO2 .O33
signal service ................. 1922, 712
Amazing E~xaxxeration.
That brings the accounts down to
April 80, 1902. Since that date the ex-
p~enditures have probably been $4,000
coo a year. At the outside figures the
total expenditures of the United States
government since Admiral Dewey en-
tered the Bay Of Manila with his fleet
have been under $225, 100000 including
the $2O,O00,OOO paid to Spain under the
treaty, and every other charge, direct or
indirect, that could possibly be construed
rs connected with the acquisition and
retention Of the Philippine archipelago,
civil, naval and military. If Judge
Parker should add to this total all the
money that has been spent since May l,
1898, for the support of the army and
navy, for the construction of ships, for
tiications and navy yards. and for the
pay Of the clerks in the War and Navy
Departments at Washington, he could
not pile up the figures as high as he
makes them in his speech.
His assertion that 100000 lives have
been sacrificed is even more absurd and
sensational, and it would not be true if
every man, soldier. sailor and civilian.
who has zone to the Philippine archi-
pelago for any reason since May 1, 1893,
had died and were buried there. The
total number of soldiers. regulars and
volunteers, that have served in the Phil
tppines at any time does not exceed
10000. l cannot get the exact figures
since the islands were turned over to
civil authorities, but between June 30,
1893, and July 4, 1902, 4,O67 officers and
122,4O1 enlisted men were sent to the
islands. OF these 2,1S5 officers and
47,867 enlisted men were volunteers, and
1882 officers and 1864 were regulars.
Total 1. Less Than 4,5OO.
"Of these the entire death list, in
eluding those killed in battle, those who
died from wounds. disease, accidents,
homicide, suicide, drowning and all other
causes was 40 officers and 1924 enlisted
men.
'Ths mortality for the year ending
June 80, 1908, was thirteen officers and
l57 men, and for the year ending June
30, 1904, it was two officers and seventy
eight men, making the total number OF
deaths in the army in the Philippine
Islands during the six years of American
occupation 1856 officers and 4,789 enlisted
men.
1.-THE number Of pensions applied for
by soldiers who were engaged in the
Spanish war in Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines and by the families OF
those who died in battle or from wounds
and disease up to date is IS, 1913. This
includes men, women and children.
Hence you will perceive that Judge
Parker has either been betrayed or is
guilty Of gross prevarication. Which
ever way o look at it everybody will
agree that such absurd and reckless
statements do not recommend the man
Tor President OF the United States.
Too Preposterous to Deny.
"Judge Parker quotes some anony-
NOUS person who has been giving him
information about conditions in the is
lands. II he would name his informant
the public might judge Of the value Of
the statements, but he appears to vouch
for them, and may therefore be held re-
sponsible. Some Of them are infamous;
some of them are ridiculous, and some
are too preposterous to deny. They are
quite as reckless as Judge Parker's own
assertions to which l have just referred.
Il would be dificult for anybody to
crowd 90 many falsehoods into the name