Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-23
FAVOR ANNEXATION
Philippine IDsurgent Congress Votes
Afirmatively on the Question
AGUINALDO HIMSELF NOW BELIEVES IN IT
He Adopts a More 0onoiliatory Attitude
Toward United States.
HAS AN ARMY OF THIHTY-sEvEN THOUSAND
Incidentally Boasts that He Holds Nine
Thousand Prisoners of War.
WILL RESIST SPAIN TO THE BLOODY END
Filipino Leader Announces that He
viii Not Guarantee the Natives
VIII Sincerely support an
AmicabIe Policy.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Oct. 22-The
United States transport Rio de Janeiro,
which arrived here today, brought the fol-
owing to the Associated Press, dated Manila
p. l., September %:
The Philippine congress has been in ses-
sion since Thursday, September Is. The
first thing that was decided was that the
Philippine republic should not countenance
any policy that should be agreed upon
whereby Spain would have anything further
to do with the island and would resist
by force OF arms any such measure.
A vote was taken on annexation to the
American republic and annexation was de-
cided upon by large majority, some 700 out
Of 800 voting in favor of annexation. Agui-
naldo now expresses himself as personally
in favor of annexation, adding that he does
not guarantee that the natives generally will
support such a policy.
When interviewed by the Associated Press
representative on September IL Aguinaldo
stated that his army consists Of $4,000 in
surgents regularly armed and equipped with
modern weapons and that he had some
5000 prisoners Of war at that time. including
the larger portion now being held in the
vicinity of Manila. He stated that an army
of 100000 could easily be raised to fight for
the cause of Independence, adding that "in
deed the whole population is willing to
fight for the cause of independence and
would oppose any Euroean power taking
possession.
When asked how it was that some natives
openly declare themselves in favor Of an
neXation to America, he stated that natives
| who profess to favor annexation are insin-
| cere in what they say. They are merely
trying to ascertain the general sentiment of
l int Of ba
himself as entertaining the greatest friend
ship for the American people, adding that
! he hoped there would be no trouble be-
tween the republic Of the Philippines and
| the republic of America. He entertains the
idea that America and the Philippines are
| two sister republics allied together and
| fighting common enemy-the Spaniards.
! He thinks that the American mission here
1 In these Islands has been accomplished by
the destruction OF the Spanish fleet and
the forcble surrender OF the city OF Manila
and expects that the Americans will soon
withdraw their forces, leaving the insur-
gents to control the islands.
Disarm Americans in Insurgcnt Lines
For some time past the insurgents have
been debarrlng Americans passing through
| their lines. but Aguinado dlsclamed hav.
ing authorized auv such conduct on the par
of his men. Agunaldo's attention was called
To the incident of September Q, when thu
PENNSYLVANIA regiment proceeded to estab
lish a new OUTPOST some distance beyOnC
the former one, within the lines of the in
surgents, and an insurgent company OBJ
iected to it being done. The captain of tn
company nearly preciptated hostilties b.
ordering the Americans to withdraw within
twenty minutes and issued orders to hi
men to intlmdate the American officer T.
obey his order to withdraw and further b.
refusing to allow the reinforcements whic
had been sent for to reach the outpost.
Aguinaldo was very emphatic in Stain
that the Fillpino who thus attempted t
obstruct the movement of the American
was only a pretended officer of the insurgen
army and was entirely unconnected there
with. The local governor and military com
mander. Pho Barican. explained to Majo
Hale who had ordered out the whole Penn
svrvania regiment upon being informed c
this action of the insurgents, that the in
surgent captain had exceeded his authort
in ordering the Americans to withdraw an
stating that he had msapprehended hi
orders.
o It is generally reported about Manila tina
t many insurgents are not in sympathy wit
e Aguinaldo and do not include themselve
a among his followers.
l. Aguinaldo denied having received an
d order or request from General Otis and Ad
a miral Dewey TO remove his troops to pre-
d scribed distance bevond the fixed city lin
n its of Manila and Cavite and further df
= cIined 10 state whether he would remove h
: troops If so requested.