Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-10-24
THEY WANT ANNEXATION.
The Philippine Congress- So Decided
by Large Majority.

by Large Majority.
San Francisco, Oct. 24.-The United
States transport Rio de Janero. which
arrived here, brought the following
dated Manila, Sept. %:
The Philippine congress has been IN
session since Thursday, Sept. ID 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 ISLANDS
and would resist by force of arms any
such measure. A vote was taken on
the policy of annexation to the Amerl-
can republic, and annexation was de-
cided upon by large majority, some
seven out Of eight voting in favor OF
annexation. Aguinaldo now expresses
himself as personally in favor OF an
nexation, adding that he does not think
that the natives generally will support
such policy.
When interviewed on Sept. II, Agui-
naldo stated that his army consists of
$1,000 insurgents regularly armed and
equipped with modern weapons ana
that he had some 5000 prisoners of war
at that time, including the larger por-
ton 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,
Indeed the whole population Is willing
to fight for the cause of independence
and would oppose any European power
taking possession"
When asked how it was that some
natives openly declare themselves in
favor Of annexation to America, he
stated that natives who profess to IA
vor annexation are insincere in what
they say. They are merely trying to
ascertain the general sentiment or In
tentions Of the Americans. He express
ed himself as entertaining the great
est friendship for the American peo-
pie, adding that he hoped there would
be no trouble between the republic of
the Philippines and the republic of
America. He entertains the idea that
America and the Philippines are two
sister republics, allied and fighting a
common enemy-the Spaniards. He
thinks that the American mission here
in these islands has been accomplished
by the destruction of the Spanish fleet
,
Mia and expects that the Americans
will soon withdraw their forces, leav-
ing the insurgents to control the is
lands.
For some time past the insurgents
have been disarming Americans pass
ing through their lines, but Aguinaldo
disclaimed having authorized any such
conduct on the part of his men. Agui-
naldos attention was called to the in
cident of serst. 9, when the Pennsyl-
vania regiment proceeded to establish
new outpost some distance beyond
the former one within the lines of the
insurgents and an insurgent company
objected to it being done. The captain
of the company nearly precipitated
hosti'ities by ordering the Americans to
withdraw within 20 minutes and issued
orders to his men to intimidate the
American officer to obey his order to
withdraw, and, further, by refusing to
allow the endorsements which had
been sent for to reach the outpost
Aguinaldo was very emphatic in stat
ing that the Filipino who thus at
tempted to obstruct the movement Of
the Americans was only a pretended
officer of the insurgent army and was
entirely unconnected herewith. The
local governor and military command
er, Pho Rarican, explained to Major
Hale, who had ordered out the whole
Pennsylvania regiment on being in
formed of this action, that the insur-
gent captain had exceeded his autho"i-
ty in ordering the Americans to with
draw and stated that he had misap-
pretended his orders.
1t is generally reported about Manila
that many insurgents are not in SYM
pathy with Aguinaldo and do not in
clude themselves among his followers
Aguinaldo denied having received any
order or request from General Otis and
Admiral Dewey to remove his troops to
a prescribed distance beyond the fixed
city limits of Manila and Cavite and
further declined to state whether he
would remove his troops If so re-
oueSted