Lodge Committee testimony from the New York Times

By Lodge Committee

This is a report published in the New York Times in 1902. The Lodge Committee was the informal name given to an investigation by the Senate Committee on the Philippines into war crimes of the Philippine-American War. The investigation commenced on January 31, 1902, and completed its work on June 28, 1902.

• Language: English
• Publisher: DigiCat
• Release date: Jun 3, 2022
• ISBN: 8596547054405

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Lodge Committee

Lodge Committee testimony from the New York Times

EAN 8596547054405

DigiCat, 2022

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Table of Contents

January 1902

Philippine Problem before the Senate

February 1902

Gov. Taft Talks before Philippine Committee

More Talk of Filipinos

March 1902

Gen. Hughes's Retort

Sharp Responses Made In Philippine Inquiry

Cruelty in Philippines

Gen. Hughes in Tilt With Senator Patterson

Gen. Hughes's Testimony

Testimony of Gen. Otis

Questions for Gen. Otis

April 1902

Friction in Philippines

Gen. Macarthur's Story

Told Of Water Cure Given To Filipinos

Saw The Water Cure Given

Testified on Water Cure

Gen. Macarthur Testifies

May 1902

Will Not Call Maj. Gardener

The Philippine Inquiry Senate Minority

Full Disclosure of The Facts

Gen. Macarthur's Testimony

Topics of the Times

The Philippine Inquiry

The Water Cure Described

Philippine Bill Discussion

Republicans Change Tactics In Senate

This Week In Washington

Maj. Gardener's Charges

Philippine Question Up In The Senate

To Send A Committee To The Philippines

One Water Cure Victim

Water Cure and Wine

Cruelty in Philippines

The Philippine Inquiry

Bishop on the Philippines

Bishop Thoburn Testifies

Denies Any Misconduct

The Philippine Inquiry

To Prosecute Witness O'Brien.

The Concentration Camps

June 1902

Says A Village Was Burned

Tell of Water Cure Cases

Admiral Dewey Testifies

Aguinaldo All For Gain

Admiral Dewey Continues His Testimony

Admiral Dewey on the Filipinos

August 1902

Perjury In Senate Hearing

Case of Corp. O'Brien

Corporal O'Brien Held

January 1902

Table of Contents

Philippine Problem before the Senate

Table of Contents

Senator Hoar Talks for an Investigating Committee.

New York Times; January 15, 1902, p. 3

Senior Massachusetts Senator Wants to Question Gov. Taft About the Administration of the Islands.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 14.—For the first time this session the Philippine question was touched on in the Senate. The interest taken indicates that it will occupy the attention of the upper branch of Congress for some time when the tariff bill is reported. The Philippines were the subject of an address by Mr. Hoar. (Rep.. Mass.,) who spoke on his resolution, introduced yesterday, providing for the appointment of a Senate committee to investigate the administration of those islands.

Mr. Hoar spoke at some length regarding the unreliability of statements which have been made from time to time regarding the situation in the Philippines and the causes which led to the outbreak, lie urged that there should be a place where any Senator in his official capacity could go and ask for two witnesses to prove the correctness or incorrectness of any question upon which light is desired. Continuing. Senator Hoar said.

I do not know of any cue able to give a statement of the truth as to the differences between Gov. Taft and Gen. Chaffee. I get some dreadful stories from brave soldiers and officers of high rang about the manner in which the war is conducted. 1 have heard of an investigation now going on in regard to one transaction which, if true, has covered with a foul blot the flag which we all love and honor. I think there should be a place where any Senator who makes such a suggestion in his official responsibility can go and say, I want two witnesses on that subject brought here, and then we shall know.'"

He said he had boon taunted by newspapers for three or four years with a statement attributed to Gen. Lawton to the effect that if certain people at home would hold their tongues there would not be any difficulty with the islands. But what the General is understood to have said was that we should stop this accursed war: it is time for diplomacy, time for mutual understanding.

There is no one. Mr. Hoar declared, who can tell whether Gen. Lawton said that or whether he said the other, or it is a forgery.

Gen. Otis had shocked the country by saying we should keep 40,000 troops in the Philippines for a considerable time, but instead of that number we have 70,000, and Mr. Hoar asked how long were we going to keep them there. Lt Gen. Chafee is right. he said. there is not a man in these islands who is not conspiring against the Government and eager for his liberty. Now give us a little light. Take the most zealous men in this body and give us a committee that will hear the evidence, put questions, hear both sides, and let us know what is the truth. We are engaged in the unholy office of crushing out a republic, the first great republic ever established in the Eastern Hemisphere. If we had dealt with this people as we dealt with Cuba we should have had today a civilized, happy peaceful republic sending their youths to our schools studying our laws, imitating our examples, animated by a love and affection and a gratitude such as no one people on earth ever yet felt for another.

One of the great events of history, he said, was the civilization of Japan. Another was the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Japan has just celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of taking her place among free nations, at which the declaration had been made that everything that Japan was she owed to the United States and yet in half a century she had encountered China as a superior and Russia as an equal.

That came. Mr. Hoar said, from the application of a world power that he should like to have his country exercise: that came from the application to the affairs of modern life of the great doctrine of the immoral declaration.

Mr. Lodge (Rep., Mass.,) urged that the resolution be referred to the Philippine Committee, of which he is Chairman, and said that if the Senate saw fit to charge that committee with the investigation of any question, past or present, the committee was competent to deal with it and would deal with it honestly and effectively. If however, the committee contemplated by the resolution was appointed, he said the reason for the existence of the Philippine Committee would cease.

Mr. Hoar replied that all he wanted was that there should be somewhere a tribunal to take evidence on these questions as far as practicable.

Was it worth while for us he continued to be considering these great questions which involve the propriety and good faith and integrity of our dealings with these unfortunate "people in the matter of their liberty when we were in the dark? He said he wanted to know something about the character of the Filipinos. He wanted Gov. Taft to come before a Senate committee, where he could be asked questions. He said he had received some terrible stories from brave soldiers and officers of high rank about the way the war in the Philippines is conducted.

Mr. Carmack, (Dem., Tenn.,) while in entire accord with the resolution said that these matters should be handled by the Philippine Committee. The necessity for an investigation was apparent, he said because there had been a constant joint debate between the civil and military authorities in the Philippines ever since we came into possession.

It being evident that a number of Senators were desirous of being heard on the subject, it was agreed that the resolution should be on the table for a day.

February 1902

Table of Contents

Gov. Taft Talks before Philippine Committee

Table of Contents

Civil Rule in All Filipino and Christian Provinces. Moros Still Under Martial Law — The Hospitality of the Islanders—Dispute with Jolo Sultan.

New York Times; February 1, 1902 p. 3

WASHINGTON. Jan. 31.-The investigation into conditions in the Philippine archipelago was begun by the Senate Committee on the Philippines to-day. Gov. W. H. Taft was the first witness. There was a full attendance, and Senator Lodge, (Rep., Mass.,) Chairman, explained that the committee desired not only the fullest information concerning the islands, but any advice that the Governor might offer.

Gov. Taft began by saying that he had gone to the Philippines in the Spring of 1900, and had visited almost all the provinces during the past year. He said that in all the thirty-four Filipino and Christian provinces there were forms of civil government, and that the Moros were friendly, except a few who had always been hostile to the Spaniards. Even these were now being brought over by the prospect of trade. Going back to the beginning of the commission's tour of the islands, the Governor said that it had only been undertaken after the re-election of President McKinley, when the time seemed ripe for the establishment of local government in the islands.

Describing this tour, he said that the object was to present to the dignitaries of the various places visited an explanation of the provincial and municipal acts. We had some oratory, he said, from the rear platform of the train, but generally from the windows of the ear. At each of the seventeen capitals the delegates of the people were met, the prescribed special act was passed, and a Governor was appointed and authorized to organize municipalities. These provincial Governments consisted, besides the Governor, of a Secretary, Superintendent, Treasurer, and Fiscal or Prosecuting Attorney.

In all cases where the selection could be