-a
didate for United States senator; on the contrary,
the true spirit of western and manly independence
exerted itself throughout the entire session, and
which we believe was most thoroughly demon
strated in the contest for the selection -of two
United States senators just ended, and that all re
ports to the contrary are false.
"WILKINSON,
"Chairman of the Special House Committee."
What more could have "been desired? The
examination was " thorough, and personal;" the
members" "regardless of party" were found to
"be "of exceptionally high moral character;"
they had all put forth an "honest effort" to
promote "the best interests of the state" by the
passage of "good laws" and the "careful appro
priation of the states money" etc.
The lexicon of eulogy was exhausted and
complimentary and congratulatory expressions
were used to the limit. The passes given to
the members (a common custom, as the report
explains) were "purely complimentary" and
were not given with any thought of "influenc
ing the vote of members- and their choice of
candidates." The members were "without
exception" willing to answer "every question,"
but not in "a single instance" could anything
be "charged or proved against any member or
candidate for United States senate" etc, etc.
Here was a vindication that vindicated and
an exoneration that exonerated. Did the
House adopt the report and thus seal for all
time the lips of the critic? Nay, not so.
Up rose Mr. Whitmore, a republican and
enquired, .wjxy , .the committee had not called
upon him for evidence. He intimated that he
could have given some information about the
"hordes," "sometimes several hundred in one
day," brought in by the railroads to help "one
certain candidate.
Chairman Wilkinson admitted reluctantly
that Mr. Whitmore may possibly have been
overlooked by the committee.
Then Mr. Dahlsten, a fusionist, took the
floor. He said that, as the' matter was up, he
would like to testify that he had been offered
money to absent himself from the joint session
and thus aid in the election of "a certain candi
date." He added that other members of the
House had spoken to him of receiving similar
offers. It was evident that Mr. Dahlsten had
also been overlooked by the committee.
Then a third member ventured the opinion
that the investigation had not been conducted
in such a manner as to make the report of any
value and said that as all the members were
honorable men, he did not see any use of any
resolution at all. By this time Chairman Wil
kinson was in a mood to accept almost any sug
gestion which would put an end to the discus
sion and he lost no time in withdrawing the
resolution.
The legislature adjourned, the members
separated and wended their ways tp their -respective
homes, but they carried with them no
self bestowed vindication. When the finger of
suspicion is pointed at them and revilers attack
their fair fame they will be defenseless. Their
children will never know, as a matter of record,
that they are all "of exceptionally high moral
character" and that they all made "an honest
The Commoner.
0
effort" "to promote the best interests of the
state."
But while the members generally languish
under suspicions which they refused to remove
by resolution, Mr. Wilkinson of Cass county will
go thundering down the ages as the author of
one of the most artistic and comprehensive res
olutions ever offered for the ..purification and
glorification of Solons.
If any republican reader doubts the correct
ness of the above report he is respectfully re
ferred to that uncompromising, though not al
ways courteous, republican newspaper, the Ne
braska State Journal, from the columns of which
the above .information has been gleaned.
W
Restless for Liberty.
A Washington dispatch in a recent issue of
the Chicago Tribune says: K
There is some restlessness on the part of the
Porto Ricans, and they are anxious to get posses
sion of the government. This is what is reported
by members of Congress who have visited the isl
and and looked into affairs. There is nothing in
the situation that causes the slightest uneasiness
or alarm. The desire of the Porto Ricans to con
trol is just the natural wish of the people to man
age their own affairs without any supervision on
the part of the United States. In fact, the Porto
Ricans are so much better satisfied with conditions
as they exist today than those under the Spanish
regime that they would be entirely content if they
were not permitted to take any further part in the
administration of the government than is now ac
corded them.
The Porto Ricans would like to haVe a nativo
governor and control of the legislature. Of course,
the administration would not consent to anything
of this kind at this time.
While the Porto Ricans are so superior to the
Cubans as not to be compared with the latter, it Is
recognized that they are not fitted to be trusted
with any more power than is now given them.
Does it strike the average American as
strange that there should be "restlessness" on
the part of people who are living under the
sovereignty of a government of which they
' are not citizens, and in which they have no ma
terial share?
Is it really surprising that the Porto Ricans
should be anxious to get possession of the gov
ernment of their native land?
Does it not seem strange that the Porto Ri
cans are "not fitted to be trusted with any more
power than is now given them," in the light of
the admission that they are "so superior to the
Cubans as not to be compared with the latter?"
The United States of America have wan
dered into strange paths, and the American
people may prepare themselves for frequent
announcements in the future that the people
who are denied either the privilege of govern
ing themselves or the privilege of becoming
citizens of the government that has forced its
sovereignty upon them are manifesting "rest
lessness." W
The Rice Deportation.
The American people do not take kindly to
deportation, but many of them will be amazed
when they learn all the facts concerning the
deportation of George T. Rice, the newspaper
editor who was sent out of the Philippine Isl
ands because he made charges affecting the
integrity of a public official.
When Sir. Rice landed in San Francisco ho
made a complete statement, which was printed
in the San Francisco Star, a weekly newspaper.
Mr. Rico suites that in his capacity as an ed
itor he criticised a custom' house official. -Rice
obtained his information from sea captains and
merchants who had had dealings with the
custom house, and who claimed that they had
been defrauded. Rice suites that ho made an
investigation and found the charges to bo true.
The custom house official then decreed that
Editor Rice should bo debarred from the cus
tom house. The military authorities went to
the aid of the customs official, and in a star
chamber proceeding, to which Rico was not ad
mitted, a pretense of investigating the accused
official was made.
The official was then given a clean bill, and
the military authorities summoned Editor Rice
before them.
Colonel Crowder acted as inquisitor on
this occasion, and Mr. Rice says the following
dialogue took place:
Crowder -Don't you think you are wrong in
this matter?
Rice No, sir.
Crowder Then you still think you are right?
Rice Yes, sir; I know I am.
Crowder I am sorry for you, young man; if
you still persist in saying you are right, my orders
are from General MacArthur to deport you.
Rice If you will give me a fair trial in court
I can prove that I am right.
Crowder Under martial law such characters
as you receive no trial. We have not the time.
Rice Can I see the evidence in the investiga
tion which you claim proves my charges false?
Crowder No; the investigation was placed in
competent hands and does not need your approval.
Your statements have heen proven to our satis
faction to be without foundation and you will bo
deported as an incendiary character and a menace
to the military situation, You are too young to
let go on slandering men of honesty and capabil
ity, and I consider your character as having fallen
to its lowest level. In writing and publishing such
articles you endanger the foundation of our mili
tary system. Such conduct as this I consider equal
to traitorism.
Rice So far as being a traitor, I have served
my country in the field for over a year, and never
had my love of country so much as questioned,
while you have never been under fire and never
expect to be, and you dare question my patriot
ism! I have more patriotism to the square inch
than you have in your whole carcass.
Crowder Be careful; a few more words and
I will put you in Bilibid! (the jail.)
Rice Put me .there! I would rather be an
honest prisoner than be a craven and deny the
truth through fear of your power.
An order was then issued directing the de
portation of Rice.
Before this order was put into execution
Colonel Crowder called upon Rice, and this
dialogue is self-explanatory:
The military governor (MacArthur) directs mo
to ask you that if your conduct is satisfactory up
to the time of your deportation and he sees fit to
remit your sentence, will you promise tuat in tho
future you will never write articles of a similar
character against any offlcer of the military?
Rice No, sir. I hold the right to publish
anything anywhere, whenever I have proof of
my statements.
Crowder Your case is hopeless.
Upon Crowder's order Rice was delivered
to the provost marshal. The editor was then
placed in solitary confinement on January 23,
where he remained until January 27. On Jan
uary 29 Editor Rice jailed for tho United
States.
Evidently it does not pay to criticise public
officials in the Philippines under the carpot
bag regime.
LkL i4