Hutchinson gazette., 1899-07-20
PRESS CENSORSHIP.
STAFF Correspondents Unite In q
Vigorous Protest Against 1t.
MUCH IMPORTATION SUPPRESSED.
They Say u Knowledge Of the Heal
Condition Or Affairs In the Philip"
pines In Kept From the
American Public

{ Manila, July ii (via Hong Kong
Julv t7.)---The constantly increasing
atrietness of the censorship Of press
dIsnatches from Manila, which has
prevented the cabling TO the United
States OF anything that did not reflect
official views OF important events anu
conditions results IN u united enorp
ON the part Of the correspondents here
10 secure an abatement OF the rigor OF
the censorship.
The initiative In this direction was
taken a month ago ana resulted Ill the
framing OF statement which was
presented on Sunday, July ., TO Major
General Otis, commanding the hllli-
tary forces of the united states IN the
Philippine Islands, with II 'est Tor
permission to telegraph II to the
United States.
The correspondents also asked that
they be allowed to cable to their re-
spective papers all facts and the diff
ferent phases Of events as they trans
pired here.
The correspondents had two long In
terviews with General Otis, in the
course of which they complained that
the evident purpose Of the censorship
was not TO keep information from the
enemy, but TO keep from the public
a knowledge of the real condition OF
affairs here.
1t was already asserted by the cor
respondents that newspapers printed
In Manila, which reach the enemy
quickly, are permitted to publish
statements similar TO those which cor
respondents are forbidden to cable.
1t was made clear to General Otis that
the objection was to the system, and
not to the censor.
General Otis finally promised greater
liberality, agreeing TO pass all matter
that he might consider not detri-
mental to the interests Of the United
States. General Otis appointed Cap
tain Green OF his staff censor.
The statement Of the correspondents
Is as follows;
"The undersigned, being all stan
correspondents Of American newspa-
pers, stationed at Manila, unite in the
following statement:
"We believe that owing to official
dispatches from Manila made public
in Washington the people OF the
United States have not received n cor
rect impression of the situation in the
Philippines but that these dispatches
have presented an ultra optimistic
view thay is not shared by the general
o1ncers in the field.
eve believe that the dispatches in-
correctly represent the existing condi-
tions among the Philippines in respect
to dissension and decentralization re-
Bulting from the American campaign
and to the brigand character of their
army.
eve believe the dispatches err in
the declaration that The situation is
well in hand, and the assumption that
the insurrection can be speedily ended
without greatly increased force.
1--WE think the tenacity of the Flip
ino purpose has been underestimated,
and that the statements are un-
founded that volunteers are willing to
engage in further service.
"The censorship has compelled us
TO participate in this misrepresenta-
tion by eXcising or altering uncontro-
verted statements of facts on the plea,
as General Otis stated, They would
alarm the people at home or Have
the people of the United States by the
ears
specifications: Prohibition of hos
pital reports suppression of full re-
ports of field operations in the event
Of failure, numbers of heat prostra-
tions in the field, systematic minimi-
cation of naval operations and sup
preston of complete reports of the
situation.
"JoHN t. McCUTCHEoN,
"HARRY ARMSTRONG,
Chicago Record.
"0SCAR X. DAVIS,
"P. G. MCDONNELL,
New York Sun.
"R0BERT NJ. COLLINS,
$ JOHN P. DUNNING,
~. JONES,
Associated Press.
= JOHN II. BASS,
: "WILL DINWIDDIE,
New York Herald.
"ED. Il. KEENE,
Scripps-McRae Association.
"RICHARD LITTLE,
! ''Chicago Tribune"