The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-04-16
MARTIN WANTS
AN INVESTIGATION
characterlzes Action of Republicans In
Killing Resolution In House Thurs
day as "Blanketins Move"

Washington, April 16.-Representa-
tive Martin, democrat, of Colorado,
who for weeks has been waging a
fight in the house in an effort to show
that the friar lands of the Philippine
Islands are being seized by the sugar
trust" with acquiescence Of Attorney
General Wickersham and the war de-
partment, last night gave to the press
an interview in which he reviews his
efforts, assails the government afficials
alleged to be involved, charges that
information which would prove his
contentious is being withheld by the
war department, and demands full con-
gressional inquiry into the matter.
Mr.. Martin characterizes the action
of the republican majority Of the house
Thursday in defeating his resolution
calling upon the war department for
information in regard to the sale OF
the friar lands as "blanketing move
He points out a number of alleged
discrepancies in the reports sent by
the war department to the house com
mittee on insular affairs concerning
the friar lands transaction, and ac
cuses the government officials of dup
licity and deceit.
He charges the administration with
having begun policy Of exploita
tion in the Philippines" and declares
that "if it has been falsely accused
let it take off the lid" Mr.. Martin
announced he was preparing new
resolution of inquiry into the frial
land deal, which he said he would
introduce in the house as soon as he
had finished drafting it.
Mr. Martins statement follows:
eff there was ever any doub
about the necessity of an investiga
ton of Philippine affairs, it is re
moved by the disclosures made b.
the war department in response t.
my resolution Of inquiry. I learned
three days ago that the war depart
ment had furnished Chairman Olm
stead of the insular committee wha
purported to be the information call
ed for in my resolution, and request
ed Mr.. Olmstead to let me see ii
This he refused. wanted to see thi
matter before it was reported to tn,
house, because knew that 1t woul'
be accompanied with motion to tabl
my resolution as having served its puI
pose, thereby shutting off debate ant
preventing a further airing of th'
matter on the floor. This occurre'
yesterday, as / anticipated. It wa
simply blanketing move.
"The war department report, uT
on examination, fully justifies such
move. It discloses negotiations be
tween the war department and attol
neys of the purchases of the friar land
in the Philippines for several month
prior to the sale; also between Til
war department and the Philippin
government, whereas the war depart
ment in a communication published i
the Congressional Record on March q
made the statement that its first il
formation concerning the sale of thi
estate was received through the pull
lie press. This affirms my contentio
that this deal had been under way fo
months and was practically consun
mated before Attorney General Wicl
ersham was asked for an opinion
1T was also stated that when tn
secretary of war heard about this ma
ter through the newspapers he cable
the Philippine governor general t
hold up the sale until he could get a
option from Attorney General Wickel
sham. No such cablegram appears i
the information now furnished. 0
the contrary there appears one froI
the war department to the agoverno
general dated December 4. 1909, tn
very day Wickersham's opinion wa
asked for, approving the sale of th
San Jose estate, which had alread
been made.
Another cablegram from the go