Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-12
Representative FaICOner
Wants the Case Of
BOaIt Looked Into
WAR CORRESPONDENT
is ORDERED DEPORTED
Washington Congressman
Wants to Know if There Is
Any Truth in the Story
That Mexicans Were Shot
Down Like Rats.

OOWA 11hO IGdO6s
Washington, July II. -" Congress
must investigate Boalt's story from
Vera Cruz. z."-Representative Falconer
of Washington.
Standing pat on that declaration,
Falconer tonight was preparing to place
before every congressman facts he had
in support of his resolution-"No. 564"
introduced today. Congress and the
public shorld know whether our ma
rines applied the law of flight and
killed Mexicans like rats as Boalt re-
ported" declared Falconer.
In my resolution 1 simply ask the
army and navy to tell what orders were
issued for Boalt's deportation. Fred L.
Boalt of the Newspaper Enterprise as
ISOLATION formerly worked in Seattle,
where he had the reputation Of an hon
est, careful reporter. think he is en-
titled to a congressional investigation"
Il don't know anything about the in
cident. I can't comment on what
think our soldiers did when we oocu-
pied Vera Cruz" declared Chairman
Padgett Of the house naval affairs com
mittee tonight to whom the Falconer
resolution was referred.
Such was the status in official Wash
ington tonight of Boalt's law Of flight
story and the proposed investigation. Of
his walking papers" by army and navy
officials.
Country Should Know
This investigation should be made
not only to give Boalt chance before
the court of inquiry on the battleship
Texas" stated Falconer, but the coun-
try should know whether this admin
istration sanctioned application Of the
ley de fuega' when our army landed
at Vera Cruz. Did this administration
approve the shooting down of Meadcans
in this manner when II states all the
time that 1t is striving to place the
world upon a higher moral plane7"
Falconer's resolution proposed that
officials should transmit to the house
all papers in the Boalt case and also
state upon whose initiative the order
for cancellation Of Boalts credentials
and the order for his deportation was
issued
From the interest displayed by other
members of the house and from in
quiries from at least one United States
senator it seems probable tonight that
a similar resolution would be present
ed in the senate next week.
viii Push the Case.
Falconer declared tonight he would
bring the case to the attention OF all
congressman next week. In this he is
backed by Representative Bryan. Pro-
gressive, of Washington.
Objection by Democratic leaders
frustrated Falconer's attempt to have
his resolution read. As soon as Ma
jorlty Leader Underwood. Chairman
Fitzgerald of the house appropriations
committee and Representative Gardner.
of Texas, learned that it was about
Vera Cruz they objected. Fitzgerald
moved the house into a Committee Of
the whole" ending debate and discus
sion. The resolution is, however.
privileged" and can be called up in
week II not acted upon by the naval
committee.
The war department receiced a mes
sage today from General Funston stat
ing that mo restriction" had ever been
placed upon Boalt's movements, refut-
ing reports that Boalt had been ar
rested in quarters" Secretary Garri-
son himself was authority for this re-
port until the explanatory message
came from Funston.
Upon hearing the report that Boait
was arrested, Secretary OF the Navy
Daniels Immediately asked Garrison to
order his release pending a naval in
vestigation. Daniels said 1t would be
unfair to have Boalt held under charges
and confined without being at liberty
to collect his evidence and prepare his
case, to substantiate his story.
Daniels said he complained to the war
department about Boalt because he
had received about 5000 letters, follow
ing publication Of the story. demand-
ing that the Americans involved in the
alleged massacre be prosecuted for
murder.
The Arkansas landing party has been
commonly credited in navy circles with
having killed more Mexicans than any
other of the attacking parties at thel
taking of Vera Cruz. William Rich
ardson, former star halfbaclS at Annap-
oils. accused by Boalt of applying the
"ley de fuega" to prisoners, was an
ensign In this party. Richardson's ac-
tions are now being considered by q
courtmartial at Vera Cruz