The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-06
OTIS NEEDS MORE TROOPS,

An Early Gall fOr Volunteers Said
to be Imminent-Army Gnioers
Are Wanting II Big Standing Army.
The Washington correspondent OF
tho News and Courier writes as fol-
lows:
1t is becoming painfully evident to u
number OF prominent officials here
that President Mckinley will be
obliged.to issue call for volunteers,
in spite OF his reluctance to do go
| SOmo OF the very best friends Of tho I'D
ministration do not hesitate to say
privately that they fear Gen. Otis has
made the same mistake charged
against Cen. Shafter at Santiago, that
OF Understanding the strength and
lighting capacity Of his enemy. Under
the circumstances Con. OILS hesitatcs
to ask for additional troops, hoping
| against hope that the Filipinos will
throw up tho sponge. Such an oc-
currence is not at all likely, Judging
from the daily reports received from
Manila.
In conversation with the members
OF the cabinet yesterday, learned
that the President is anxiously watch
ing developments, not only in the
Philippines, but he ia also interested
in watching public sentiment in this
country. Patriotism and love OF the
| flag suggests that the Administrations
foreign policy should be sustained at
any reasonable cost. In spite OF tho
desire in every section OF the country
to uphold the President In pnttiug
down tho "rebellion " in the Philip,
pines thcre Is undou btedly growing
feeling that distressing mistakes are
being made at Manila, owing, princi-
pally, to an inadequate force.
Up to the present time both Dewcv
and Otis have been allowed to plan
and carry out their campaigns without
interference or suggestions from
Washington, and tho daily repor,s
have indicated asuccession OF Victories
Under the circumstances tho Prcsi-
dent has been strengthened In the be.
lief that everything was progressing
In q satisfactory manner In the Philip
pines, and that the insurgents, under
Aguinaldo, were practically subdued
anu about to sue for peace. With the
gratifying official and unofficial re-
ports, backed up by private correspon-
dence, this cabinet officer said the
President was justified IN supposing
that Otis had ample force at his com,
mand. The slightest intimation from
, OILS now would induce the President
! to Issue call for volunteers, and 1t Is
probable that u call for volunteers will
be made before we celebrate lndepcn-
dence Day.
Representative Livingston, OF Geor-
gia, says he does not believe there will
be any difficulty in securing all the
volunteers required, If the President
comes out with a general and un
qualified call. He says there are
thousands Of mon through the South
and West out OF employment, who
would DC glad OF an opportunity to 20
into the army. Then there are u mum
bcr OF bright young mon who are
anxious to obtain volunteer commits
slons, and they have influence enough
at their respective homes to induce
other men, less aspiring to enlist as
privates. MIR. Livingston says tho lack
OF interest displayed in tho recon,
order OF the President, increasing the
force at Manila by 5000, is duo to the
TACT that aii the officers selected for
the new regiments are to be men who
are now serving in the Philippines.
Among regular army officers the
idea Of calling for volunteers is not
received with enthusiasm. They claim
that the volunteers will not submit TO
the regulation discipline, either at
home or abroad, Of the regular troops.
IL is claimed That in view of the devcl.
opments in tho Philippines it would
have been wiser had Congress provided
for the incrcaoe in tho regular armv
suggested In the original Hull bill.
The agitation and the uncertaiptv
about tho calling for volunteers would
not exist Some OF the officers who
talk this way are frank enough to ad-
nit that had the original Hull bill
prevailed they would have been ben.
chted by a promotion to higher
80 nj a N In, ,ot,
1t is too lato now to speculate uDOn
what might have occurred had certain
Legislation been enacted. The fact re-
mains that Gen. Otis has moro work
on his hands than he Is able to attend
to, and tho sooner he is substantially
reinforced the better it will be for this
government. There are SO many con
tlicting reports received from Manila
that it is dillcult 10 decided which are
accurate.
| was talking to Representative Hit,
OF Illinois, on this subject q few days
ago. Mr.. Hit has been chairman OF
ing tho Reed regime, and he is one OF
the best posted men on foreign affairs
In other house OF Congress. He was
one OF the commissioners sent to
Hawaii upon the annexation OF those
Islands. Mr.. Hit says it ia unreason-
able to suppose that tho rebellion
In tho Philippines can be put down
with tho small force that Con. Otis has
at his command. Ii the Filipinos could
all be rounded up and placed In front
OF the rapid fire guns OF the brave
American soldiers we might make
quick work Of 1t. Unfortunately the
enemy is scattered all over those is-
lands and they will not allow them
selves to be rounded up, nor Will they
hght IN an open field, as our soldiers
are In The habit OF doing. Ho rccals
tho fact that tho United Statcs was
able to conquer Mexico with neatncss
and dispatch because wo managed to
get tho Mcxicans Ill together. In
othor words, thoy concentrated their
forces 30 that we coild get at them.
IN such contest the superior fighting
qualities OF the Americans were too
much Tor tho Mcxicans and they were
defeated.
Mr.. Hit says 1t Is extremely doubt.
ful whether VIC can call for enough