The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-17
Garrison and Daniels
Acting Under Orders
of Wilson.
M E M BERS ASKED
FOR EXPLANATION
After Conference of Cabinet Of
ficers To-Day They Will Frame
Report on Which President
Probably Will Determine
His Future Course
in Matter.
special TO The Times-Dispatch.

Especial to The Times Dispatch
Washington. December 16-The ofti-
cial Investigation OF the Carabao So
ciety for it's exploitation of Secretary
Bryan's battleship "Pitfle," deriding the
Presidents Philippine policy. and sing
ing the "D-n. d--n" song about the
insurrectos was begun to-day by Sec
retary Of War Garrison and Secretary
of the Navy Daniels under orders of
President Wilson.
on the report Of Secretary Garrison
and what Information can be gathered
by Secretary OF the Navy Daniels. the
President Is to determine what pun
ishment or discipline. 81 any. shall be
Inetcd out to the members OF the So
ciety.
Secretary Daniels. while not giving
judgment in the matter says that the
essence OF the oftcnse Is "criticism Of
superior officers"
The two secretaries will have con-
ference Tomorrow and Will probably
begin Immediately to prepare a report
10 the President.
The investigation began to-day with
the questioning of Rear Admiral How
ard, who has been elected president of
the Carabao Society: Brigadicr- General
Aleshire, quartcrmastcr general OF the
army, and Brigadier-G eneral Mcintyre.
head OF the Insular Bureau Of the gov
ernment which deals with Porto Rico
and the Philippines.
According to these officers. they
were simply asked by the Secretary
or War 10 tell what happened and pro-
duce records OF the entertainment and
recollec tions. SO that the secretary
would be able to present graphic
reproduction OF it to the White House
Tell Story to Daniels.
After their examination by the Sec
rotary of War. the three military men
marched over TO the office OF the Sec
rotary of the Navy, where they again
told tho story Of the pictorial battle
ships and the songs. and also pre-
sented Mr.. Daniels with n copy OF a
letter they had fled with the Secretary
OF War. This letter follows
December l6.
The Honorable Josephus Daniels,
Secretary OF the Navy:
'Sir-We have been appointed by
the committee in charge Of the recent
Carabao. subcommittee TO submit
certain data to the Secretary of War
requested by him.
The subcommittee also desires to
express TO you the deepest regret at
the criticisms in the press OF the re-
cent Carabao dinner. The society, COM
posed largely OF army and navy officers
IL greatly distressed that anything in
its entertainment should he offensive
TO its invited guests. The principal
song reported to have given offense was
composed by soldiers on the way to the
Philippines in 1899, and has bcen sung
at Carabao dinners and similar occa-
sions ever since.
1T was not on the program for the
recent dinner, but was sung once. and
when asked for q second time. was re-
fused by the officer presiding at the
singing table. During the dinner there
have always been presented entertain
ing features. and songs have been
practically the same on all such oc-
casions.
''It has been stated in the press that
the songs were known in advance
That is true. as the song book printed
this year is practically the same rs
song books heretofore printed, twenty
nine out OF thirty-fvc songs being the
same. and the others have not been
mentioned as being in any way objec-
tionable.
The printed statement that the per-
formance. according to advanced state
ments given out by the Carabao So
cicty, was designed to show the lack OF
sympathy for recent developments and
tendencies in the Philippine govern
ment,' IS so absurd that IL seems hard
ly necessary TO deny IL.
Very respectfully.
tSigncd) Il Is. ALEStIIRE
IT. B. HOWARD.
FRANK McINTYRE'
Heller Takes Blnne.
DR.. Joseph VI. Heller. who Is sccro-
tary OF the Washington Carabao, to-
day admitted that he wrote the ad-
vance notice referring 10 lack of sym
pathy for recent developments and ten
dcncy In the Philippine government"
Secretary Daniels was told that DR..
Heller has assumed the responsibility
for the statement. but Mr.. Daniels
would not indicate whether that fact
would affect the investigation. mater
tally.
Dr. Heller was in the volunteer serv-
ice.
DR.. Keller said the advance matter
was prepared hurricdly. and this SEN
tcnce would have been eliminated on
careful inspection.
Secretary Daniels said tonight his
suggestion to Rear Admiral Howard
that he decline 10 accept the prcsi
dency of the Carabao Society. to which
he was recently elected. extended to
other prominent officers in the navy.
I'm view OF the criticism Of the re-
cent dinner" said Mr.. Daniels, Il
don't think It would be wise for any
OF the older officers to take office in
the organization now. When every
thing that is offensive or reflects on
the administration has been taken out.
it might be all right for them to take
an active part"
Cnn Permit no reflections.
Mr. Daniels pointed out that the
President. 40 commander In chief of the
army and navy. could not permit re-
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