Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-09-15
Favors Some Form OF Home
Rule Under su pervIsion OF
the United States.
CONGRESS COULD ASSIST
Declaration Of Intentions, He
Believes, Might Aid In
Restoring Peace.
Doubts the Capacity OF the
Different Tribes to Gov
ern Themselves.

1THACA, N. l., oepC. A4.-1 AcSAuoA0
Schurman of the Philippine commits
sion, in discussing the situation in the
islands, gave at length the conditions
as he found them and said:
"The United States having assumed,
by a treaty Of peace with Spain, SOW
ereignty over the archipelago, became
responsible for the maintenance OF
peace or order, the administration of
justice; the security Of property and
life among all the tribes Of the archi-
pelago. This is an obligation which
intelligent Filipinos, not less than the
white residents, expect us to fulfill.
Nothing will permit us to turn back.
In taking the Philippine islands we
annexed great responsibilities. The ia ct
that the responsibility is heavier than
most expected it would be is no excuse
for the failure to discharge it. re-
peat the Philippine question is simply a
question of national honor and obliga.
tion."
Congress Could Assist.
In reply to a question as to whether
anything was now left but to fight 1t
out, President Schurman said:
In my opinion much good will be
done by q declaration on the part OF
congress Of the form of government to
be established in the islands or better
still, let congress establish q govern
ment for the Philippine islands and
have it put in force in all parts and
among all tribes hostile to the United
States This would serve two purposes.
It would distinguish between our
friends and enemies and treat the
former according to their deserts. 1t
would also give our enem les demon
stration Of free government on the part
of the Americans, a very necessary un.
dertaking when it is remembered that
the Filipinos pretend to be fighting for
independence"
Asked about the capacity Of the Fill
pino people to govern themselves Presi.
dent Schurman replied that they had
had no experience in self-government
except in municipal affairs and even
eA00O "OA0 0uOJOSo w oAo
Control Of the Spanish Authorities.
He thought, however, that each tribe
might, subject to the supervision of a
wise general government, manage in
the main its own municipal and provin-
cial affairs. Supervision from Manila
would vary with the position which the
different tribes occupied in the scale of
civilization.
President Schurman seemed firm In
the decision that some form Of home
rule for each Of the tribes and under
the watchful supervision Of the general
government at Manila was the solution
Of the problem.
II have great confidence in the popu.
lation Of the Philippine islands," he
said. land much sympathy for its as
pirations. A race should be judged by
its best deeds, and an educated Filipino,
and each tribe and city has it's educated
men, would understand an, educated
man of any other race. Among the
people there exists much ignorance and
a desire for education"
TRANSPORT TARTAR HELD.
British Consul at Hong Kong Claims 1t
Il OverCrowded.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14.-A cable
message has been received at the war
department concerning the transport
Tartar, which has been held at Hong
Kong. Secretary Root thought it was
of sufficient Importance to take to the
president for consideration. The dis
patch has not been made public.
The Tartar was chartered by the
United States and is owned by the Can
adian Pacific Steamship company. She
sails under the British flag. 1t is said
that under these conditions she is sub
ject to the British navigation laws.
The British consul can determine
whether she complies with the British
navigation laws, and if she does not, be
has authority to. unload her.
A private cable message from Hong
Kong says that complaint was made by
the 400 discharged regulars on board
the Tartar, of overcrowding, where
upon clearance was refused.
The Twentieth Kansas volunteer in
fantry, with General Funston, is aboard
the Tartar but it is understood that the
volunteers make no complaint and are
anxious to have clearance granted the
ship, in order that they may proceed
homeward.
It. was stated at the war department
later that the Tartar matter had been
yeferred to Ambassador Choate, which
~pAkss N International question Of it.