The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-02-28
THAT FAMOUS ORDER
TO ADMIRAL DEWEY.
It Is Responsible for the Pres
ent Situation in Case Of
Trouble With a Foreign
Power.
Sc. Joseph Observer.

ch SVrrpn OpeoINer.
Comparatively little things some-
times cause great annoyance and
trouble which could easily have
been averted had a reasonable
am cunt OF thought been given the
matter at the time OF the occurrence.
The United States now has more
than q white elephant on hands on
account OF the retention OF the Phil.
ippines which this government would
now gladly let go Of II they could
withous attracting too much con :.
ment. The Democratic party has
always stood against the retention
OF the islands but the iingoes, whose
supply In trade consists OF the regu
lation yell, "The constitution follows
the flag," have forced the admins.
tration o retain these islands which
are now a menace to America
Should the brush with Japan, which
is now go much discussed take place,
these iingoes will wake up some fine
morning to read that the little brown
men are in complete possession Of
"our insular possessions" and that
this government when It proceeds to
carry ON a war at 5000 miles dis
tance will have undertaken one OF
the largest contracts In the history
OF this nation. 1t will also be safe
ITO say that not one Of the iingoes
who have been 80 decidedly In favor
OF American retention OF the Philip
pines will be found at the 'front.' with
q musket peppering away at the
brown fellows and actively support
ing his declaration, but In place will
be found safely at home filing out
gov eminent contract for supplies.
A CURIOUS STORY.
Senator Hale oil Maine tells q most
interesting story oihow these islands
became the property Of the United
Sta ties and how 1t came that the fed.
eral government retained them,
which was simply from the fact that
the White House conference which
gave Dewey orders failed to go far
enough and tell him what to do al,
ter he had accomplished his orders.
Mr.. Hale was one OF the leaders Of
the anti-war party In the congress
that was in session at the time the
unpleasantness with Spain broke
out.
He talked and argued against war,
and made predictions, many OF which
have been verified, of the problems
that would follow conflict wish
Spain. The senator from Maine was
in the confidence OF the Mckinley
administration at all times, and at.
tended most OF the conferences that
were held at the White House imme
diately preceding and during the
progress OF the war.
SENATOR HALE s REGRET.
II have one regret" said Senator
Hale, "and l will take il to the
grave. participated in the confer
encs held at the White House one
memorable night when II was decid-
ed to order Dewey to leave Hong
Kong and proceed to Manila In quest
Of the Spanish feet. Wepuszled over
the matter for q long time, and then
deci ded upon the form, which read
substantially: Proceed to Manila;
find and destroy the Spanish feet.
That was all. l have wondered over
II great many times, and In my
mind have wondered why It was that
no thought was given by any one to
what Dewey might do after he had
destroyed the Spanish feet. Tor We
all believed that he would destroy It.
ut would have been 90 easy," con
tinued Senator Hale, Ito have add
Cd TO the order and return to Hong
Kong or Leave Manila at once.' It
might have been that wewould have
bean spared TO . large sxssnt the
problems that have come up In con
nsction With ous insulsr possesslons.
Certainly W would not have had
Ne Philippines n Dewey had stsan-
"a out Of Manila after his triumph
there on May 1. 1898; - voald
have saved the millions - have
spsnt on tho Philippians, and, b ad-