The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1899-07-22

The Press is Not Getting the Facts, But
Cablegrams are Colored to Suit the Views
of the Powers That be--A Signed State
ment is Submitted.
Manila. The constantly increasing
strictness of censorship of press dis
patches from Manila, which has pre-
vented the cabling to the United States
of anything that did not reflect Off
Cial views of the important events and
conditions resulted in an effort upon
the part of the correspondents here
to secure an abatement Of the rlgor
Of the censorship The initiative II
this direction was taken month
ago and resulted in the framing of
statement which was presented on
Sunday, July 8, to Maj. Gen Otis,
commanding the military forces OF
the United States in the Philippine
islands, with a request for permission
to telegraph it to the United States
The correspondents also asked that
they be allowed to cable to their re-
spectiye papers all facts and the differ
pnt phases CT events as they transpired
here. The correspondents had two
long interviews with Gen. Otis IN
the course of which they complained
that the evident purpose of the cen
sorship was not to keep information
from the army, but to keep from the
public knowledge of the real con-
ditions of affairs here. 1t was also
asserted by the correspondents thai
newspapers printed in Manila, which
reach the enemy quickly, are permitted
10 publish statements similar to those
which correspondents are forbidden t
cable. 1t was made clear to Gen. Oti
that the objection was to the system
and not to the censor.
Gen Otis finally promised create
liberty, agreeing to pass all matter tina
he might consider not detrimental t
the interest Of the United States. Ge1
Otis appointed Capt. Green, of his staff
censor,
The statement Of the correspondent
is as follows:
"The undersigned, being all sta
correspondents of American newsps
pers, stationed in Manila, unite in th
following statement:
ave believe that, owing to ofiicl'
dispatches from Manila made public
Washington the people of the Unite
States have not received o correct in
preston of the situation in the Phil,
pines, but that these dispatches ha'
presented an ultra optimistic view tn
is not shared by the general officers
the field.
"We believe that the dispatches i
correctly represent the existing cond
tons among the Philippines in respe
to dissention and decentralization
yulting from the American campalI
O, and to the brigand character of thu
army.
I" We think the tenacity OF the Fl
: Pine purpose has been underestimate
- and that the statements arc unbound
that volunteers are willing to enga
in further service
1.-THE censorship has compelled us
participate in this misrepresentation
exercising or altering uncontrover1
statements of facts on the plea, as IL
Otis stated. that they would alarm
people at home, Or have the people
- the United States by the ears.
"specifcations: Prohibition Of b
- pital reports; suppression Of full
y Dorts of field operations in the event
\ failure; number Of heat prostrati
in..the field; systematic minimizat
g Of naval operations and suppression
= complete reports of the situation
q (signed J "John T. McCutche
= Harry Armstrong, Chicago Recc
& Oscar Davis, P. G. Mcdonnell, J
York Sun; Robert NJ Collins, Johr
Dunning, L. Jones, the Assoclt
Press; John F Bass, Will Deinwid
'''' New York Herald; Ed, Scene, Scrl1
McRae Association; Richard LII
GU, Chicago Tribune. y ---
l. onsteamcr Destroyed by Fire
Halifax, Il. S.,-The Standar'
Company's tank steamer Mavarack
Ier, destroyedssby fire Monday, together
400. 900 gallons ot oil Loss $3.50
90 insurance