The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-16
WILSON W|THDRAWS
MEMBERSHIP IN THE
ORDER Of CARABAO
President Resents Thrusts
at Administration Peace
Policies by Army and
Navy Organization


volunteer officers of the army and navy
who served in the Philippine Islands
during the four years succeeding the
spanish-American war.
Earlier in the day the President had
ordered an investigation of various satires
| and travesties on the administration 8
policy towards the Philippines as por-
| trayed at a banquet of the Carabaos in
Washington last Thursday night. The
affair was attended by Secretaries Red
field, Daniels and Postmaster General
Burleson, Justices McIlenna and Van De-
venter of the United States supreme court,
many members of Congress and hun
dreds of army and navy officers.
Causes Sensation
The demand for an investigation, to-
gether with intimations from the White
House that courtmartals and severe rep
rimands would not be surprising as a re-
suit OF the banquet, caused a sensation
in army and navy circuits in the capital.
The incident of the case came to the
Presidents attention when he read ac-
counts of the newspapers
with various members of the cabinet ex-
pressing his indignation that officers of
| the army and navy should sing songs
containing profane epithets toward a peo-
pie whom the United States was en-
deavoring to assist to self-governmenr
and civilization. No effort according to
White House officials, had been made to
keep the banquet a private affair, copies
of the songs and descriptions of the
travesties showing opposition to the ad-
ministrations Philippine policy being given
to the press generally in advance.
Thrusts Resented
1t was made plain at the White House
that while a general burlesque of the
administrations peace policies and thrusts
at Secretary Bryan and others were deep
ly resented because they came from army
and navy officers, the chief objection was
to the spirit of hostility shown to Philip
pine independence as the problem is being
worked out by the present administra-
ton.
Secretaries Daniels and Garrison con-
ferred at length on the subject and
called upon Rear Admiral Thomas T.
Howard, U. S. N, and Mai. Gen. James
Aleshire, L. S. A, the two highest Off
GERS of the he-Carabaos. for an explanation.
They promised to give all the informa-
ton desired. They would not discuss the
incident for publication
Secretary. Daniels. who made a speech
at the banquet but left early to attend
the congressional reception, said after
ward that none of the "stunts'' such as
the bringing in of the Peace fleet" COM
posed of the battleship models III s. S.
Friendship L. S. S. sFellowship and L.
s. S. Piffle,' had taken place while he
| was present
while l was there, said Mr. Daniels,
| the thing | thought was particularly of
fan n ci VIC hn
| Damn, the Insurrectors.' Had known it
was to be sung | would have asked that
| it be eliminated from the programme or
l would not have gone"
The chorus of the song which was sung
with great zest by hundreds of army
Damn, damn, damn. the insurrectors,
| cross-eyed. kakiack ladrones
Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em
with a Krag,
"And return us to our own beloved
homes
The word 'ladrones" is the Spanish for
robbers" and "Krag" is the army alb
breviation for the Krag-Jorgensen rifle.
Song Bad Taste
| "It was In bad taste to sing that song"
said Mr. Daniels. 1T isn't like the Grid
iron club or other organizations outside,
which are Independent of the govern
ment When l heard the song | turned
| to Justice Van Deventer of the supreme
court, who was sitting beside me, and
said: This will be resented, if it goes
to the Philippines He. said with laugh,
| better omit the it," I suppose the of
| ficers intended merely to have a jolly
time, but they went too far If they had
stopped to think | am sure they wouldn't
have done it,"
1t was pointed out to the Secretary
that the song had been sung at many
Carabao dinners in previous years and
had originally read Dam, dam, dam the
| Fflipinos," but had been amended.
Army and navy officers had no busi-
ness singing either version" said Mr.
Daniels. zone naval officer said to me
that President Taft had heard the song
at previous dinner and had not objected.
| / told him that did not mean it should
| be sung after the November elections
of year ago as the whole Philippine
policy of the government has changed,
this administration making every effort
to give independence to the Fiipinos
when they are ready for it,
| The result of the investigation is being
anxiously awaited by army and navy Of
fcers generally, though many of them
believe a reprimand and an order that
such affairs be discontinued in the future
would be the extent of it all.
PRESIDENT Wilson'S withdrawal from
honorary membership leaves fromer
| President Taft the only honorary mem
| ber of the Caraboas.
| DR.. Joseph NJ. Heller, secretary of the
| Washington Corral of the Carabao, is
| sued a statement tonight expressing re-
| gret on behalf of the members of the
order, particularly those who had to do
| with Thursday nights dinner, that any
\ feature of the programme had given Of
| fense
| THE members of the order feel sure"
DR.. Heller said. that the high officials
present at the dinner must have observed
the spirit in which things were done, and
must realize, they were to realize.
one nor upon anything.
II am sure that officers of the army
and of the navy would be the last men
| in the world to ridicule the adminstra-
ton and even If they We're so inclined a
public banquet would never have been
selected as the place for such manfesta-
| ton.
'The song, Damn, Damn, Damn the In
| surrectors,' was inspired 10 years ago, dur
! ing the instruction in the islands, in the
heat of a vicious campaign and amid
hardships and privations, and it was sung
by the first volunteers that went to the
Philippines, and has been every year
since. AS the words of the song indi-
cate the men wanted the nsurrection
over and to be returned to their own be-
! loved homes. AS it stood originally, the
song read Filipino instead of Insur-
reptoSl' -Thraa