The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-04-22
MARTIN WANTS
AN INVESTIGATION
charaeterlzes Action Of Republicans In
Killing Resolution In House Thurs
day as "5lanketlng 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 frier lands of the Philippine
Islands are being seized by the sugar
trust" with acquiescence Of Attorney
General Wiekersham and the war de-
partment, last night gave TO the press
an interview in which he reviews bis
efforts, assails the government aflicials
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 a "blanketing move, "
He points out a number Of alleged
discrepancies in the reports sent by
the war department to the house com
mlttee 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 a policy of exploita-
tion In the Philippines" and declares
that III It has been falsely accused,
let it take off the lid Mr. Martin
announced he was preparing new
resolution of inquiry into the friar
land deal which he said he would
introduce in the house az soon as he
had finished drafting II.
Mr.. Martins statement follows:
III there was ever any doubt
about the necessity of an investiga-
ton of Philippine affairs, It Is re-
moved by the disclosures made by
tho war department In response to
my resolution Of inquiry. | learned
three days ago that the war depart
ment had furnished Chairman Ohm
stead Of the insular committee what
purported to be the information call
ed for in my resolution, and request
ed Mr. Olmstead to let me see II.
This he refused I wanted to see this
matter before It was reported to the
house, because ! knew that IL would
be accompanied with a motion to table
my resolution as having served its pur-
pose, thereby shutting off debate and
preventing a further airing of the
matter on the floor. This occurred
yesterday, as ! anticipated. 1t was
simply a blanketing move.
The war department report, up
on examination, fully justifes such
move. It discloses negotiations be-
tween the war department and attor-
neys of the purchases Of the frlar lands
in the Philippines for several months
prior to the sale; also between the
war department and the Philippine
government, whereas the war depart
ment In a communication published in
the Congressional Record on March 2s,
made the statement that its first in
formation concerning the sale OF this
estate was received through the pub
lie press. This affirms my contention
that this deal had been under way for
months and was practically consum-
mated before Attorney General Wick
ersham was asked for an opinion.
1T was also stated that when the
secretary Of war heard about this mat.
ter through the newspapers he eabled
the Philippine governor general to
hold up the sale until he could get an
option from Attorney General Wicker.
sham. No such cablegram appears In
the information now furnished. On
the contrary there appears one from
the war department TO the governor
general dated December 4. 1903, the
very day Wickersham's opinion was
asked for, approving the sale Of the
San Jose estate, which had already
been made
Another cablegram from the gov
ernor general antelatlng the request
for Wiekersham's opinion, shows that
the sale was not TO Poole as hereto
fore represented by the war depart
ment but to Poole or his nominees.
Poole is or will be a subsidiary sugar
trust corporation, probably the Min
doro Development company, already
organized by dummy incorporators
under the laws Of New Jersey.
Then, there is a cablegram dated
October % from the governor general
to the secretary OF war, stating that
Prentlss and Poole desired to pur-
chase the San Jose estate. which |
refers TO prior negotiations
by one Hammond with the war depart |
ment about these friar lands. This
Hammond It develops, Is a member
Of the firm of Strong 81 Cadwalader of /