Arizona republican., 1899-06-17
The Administration Not TrOu bled
 About the Philippines.
RECENT MILITARY MOVEMENT
Not Significant of an Extensive Increase of General Otis Force. Could Recruit an Army Hmond inc Friendly Natives if He Should Find if Desirable 10 Do So.

Washington, June 16.-(Special.)- A determination is apparent in many quarters to have it appear that the ad- ministration is greatly troubled over conditions in the Philippines and that the president is planning a notable in crease in the American army there. Even the emphatic assertions of those who are in a position to know and could have no motive in giving a wrong impression carry no weight with the purveyors of sensational re- ports. The most ordinary circum- stances are seized upon and distorted in such way as to lend them a sig nificance far from their real meaning
 For instance, the Nineteenth regi- ment, about to return from Cuba will lose a large number of men upon it's arrival here, owing to the ract that they enlisted for the war and that their terms of service have now ex- pired. Their places will have to bs filled in order to keep the regiment at full strength. A decision from the law officers of the government puts outside the roll of enlisted men in the army the 2,600 men who are employed in hospital duty. This leaves just 2,600 placss to be filled 'by further en- listment. In one way and another there are about 5 900 men to be en- listed in the regular army in order to bring it up to it's legal strength, and the department has gone to work through the regular channels to secure the necessary recruits. No hurry or ders have been issued, and there has been no intimation that these new re- cruits were needed immediately for service in the Philippines or anywhere else
 Affairs at the department could not be going on more smoothly than now. and there could hardly be less of the hurry and excitement which would necessarily characterize increasing preparations for war.
 On the contrary. conditions in the Philippines are continually improving. Prof. Worcester's statement that 80 per cent of the inhabitants of the isl- ands are prepared to accept American sovereignty and that the band of Tagal insurrectionists under Aguinaldo rep resents at the outside no more than 20 per cent is confirmed by informa- tion received from other sources. In- deed, the latest reports indicate that many of the Tagals who have been ac- lively in insurrection have manifested wish to acknowledge American au- thorty. This disintegration of the Tagal forces has gone so far that Gen eral Otis and the members Of the com mission believe a majority of the so- called Filipino congress would declare allegiance to the United States, if it were our policy to recognize the con- gress so far as to convene it's mem- bers and allow theGn to express pref erence. AS it is, a great many mem bers of the congress have given their individual allegiance and have offered satisfactory evidence of personal Ioy- atty.
 Aguinaldo's play in declaring him self dictator is really an evidence Of his weakness. It is convincing proof that he can no longer depend upon the congress which he organized and which is now dissolved, so many of it's members having shown themselves in- clined to accept American Jurisdiction.
 So far have the Flipinos gone in indicating a desire for American sue cess that General Otis would feel jus tif1ed in enlist;ng native troops to help put down the rebellion if they were really needed. At present he does not think it timely to do this, although 200 natives have been enrolled for scouting purposes without organiza- tiCn into companies.
 A wholesome sign, also, is the fact that the American commission is al- ready considering a plan to hold an election for local officers in Manila. Some of the members of the commis~ sion, notably Col. Denby. believe that the people of Manila can safely be de- pended upon to manage their own municipal affairs, and to elect the right kind of municipal officers. The people of the city have been apparent ly so genuinely sincere in their pro- fessions of allegiance that Col. Denby has urged earnestly upon the commis- sion the wisdom of giving theTl suf- frage. The other members of tue con- mission are not opposed to the plan by any means, and the civilian mem- bers inc1ine to Denbys view. But it has been thought advisable to refer the whole business to the president, who now has it under consideration.