The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-02
INSULAR POLICY AND
ARMY REORGANIZATION
Two Important Subjects Dealt With
in Secretary Roots First
Annual Report.

WASHINGTON. Dec. dealing as II
does with large questions OF insular pol
icy, OF army reorganization, OF the future
Of Cuba and OF the campaign in the Phil
ippines. the first annual report OF Secre-
tAry Root. just made public, is Of excep-
tional interest.
Frequent reference is made to the re-
port Of General Otis to show the magni-
tude OF the task set for him in the Philip
pines with the inadequate forces at MS
command when the outbreak came, and
high tribute is paid 10 the courage or the
troops, which, In the face of great hard
ships, voluntarily consented TO forego an
immediate return 10 their homes upon the
expiration of their terms of service. The
history OF the operations Of the past sea-
son Is recounted. and the Secretary out
lines the plan Of the present campaign,
which began in October This involved
the movement OF three separate forces.
One was 10 proceed up the Rio Grande,
along the northeastern borders OF the
plains, and strike across TO the Gulf OF
Lingayen. Another was to land on the
gulf shores by transports and proceed
along the coast road 10 unite with the
first force. A third column was TO strike
straight along the railroad 10 Dagupan.
The Secretary says these movements We're
executed with energy, rapidity and sue
cess, notwithstanding deluges of rain.
A chapter tells Of what has been done
In Cuba by the army during the past year
Order has been maintained. social dis
tress has been alleviated. sanitation has
been instituted. and in all respects salts
factory progress has been made, and the
part played by our troops now is but the
restraining influence OF their presence.
AS order has been restored the force OF
troops has been reduced and orders have
been given recently for the withdrawal OF
eight companies of infantry and eight
troops of cavalry.
In Porto Rico the year has been de-
voted TO administering and improving the
civil government of the Island and IN
structing the people in the rudiments OF
lf-government, at every step in confer
ence with leading citizens.
A compliment is paid TO General Lud-
ington's administration OF the quarter
masters department, and II Is SAID that
owing 10 the experience acquired the en-
tire movement involved in the -transpor-
tation OF a large army 10 the Philippines
has been accomplished practically with
out loss OF life, disease or injury TO
health. The clothing of the army too,
was satisfactory. and the food OF good
quality ndfurnished promptly. The health
of the army has been remarkably good.
and the report shows that the death rate
among the soldiers in the Philippines from
disease is only ENTHUSIASTICALLY less
than in Washington, Boston. San Fran
cisco, New York and Baltimore. The sol
diers killed IN battle and dying OF wounds
numbered Al, anu the entire mortality
was s4S ~ the past ten months.
The Secretary deals at great length with
the problem of insular government. He
recalls the fact that the treaty of Paris
places IN Congress alone the determina-
ton OF the civil representatives and DO
litical status OF the native inhabitants OF
the territories ceded 10 the United States
he argues that this limitation COMPLETELY
ueprives these people OF the right TO have
tod Gfas a.-
tory previously acquired has been treated.
or even to assert legal right under the
provision OF the constitution which was
established Tor the people Of the United
States themselves. Nevertheless, he as
sumes that the intention is 10 give them
to the greatest possible extent. individual
with their capacity, just and equal laws
and an opportunity for education. for
profitable Industry and for development
and civilization: He takes up Porto Rico
first. as presenting the simplest problem
and after discussing the present condi-
lions there. emphasizing the ignorance OF
the people OF any modern system of gov
eminent he holds that they should be
provided with the kind OF administration
10 which we have been accustomed, with
just as much participation on their part
as Is possible without enabling their in
experience TO make IT ineffective. and with
opportunities for them to increase their
capacity for government. The Secretary
lays stress upon past failures because of
the refusal of a defeated minority 10 par
ucipate further In government, which he
says is precisely the cause OF the con-
tinual revolutions in the West Indies and
Central America. and marks a rudimen-
tary stage of political development
To meet the case. he suggests a statu-
tory declaration as TO what laws shall be
vision for Federal officers TO execute
them, and for a Federal judiciary, with
appeal to the United States Supreme
Court There should be form of local
sional limitation, a Governor appointed
by the President and confirmed by the
Senate, the chief officers appointed in like
manner. and legislative council. com
posed of the chief officers OF the State
and minority selected by the President
from me citizens of the island. The mu-
ors and Councils elected by them, with
officers subject to removal by the Gov
ernor. II would be better to wait for a
TINE before an elective Legislature be
permitted. Suffrage should be limited TO
those who read and write or own a small
amount Of property. Porto Ricans should
be chosen for offices they are able to fill
American officials should be limited in
number TO the barest necessities and
should then be chosen by civil service
methods. Education should be at the cost
OF the community, betrayed from the in
sular treasury, and If necessary assisted
by the United States. The Spanish Civil
Code should be continued in force. with
such radical notifications as experience
suggests The Secretary says that the
trouble has not been that the law was
defective or vicious, but that II was never
fairly and honestly administered ANY
attempt TO substitute in these southern
islands q system Of laws based on the
experience and characteristics of a New
England community would be both op-
pressive and futile.
II is pointed out that q similar course
TO that just outlined was successfully fol-
lowed by ourselves In Louisiana and by
the English In Lower Canada
Much stress is laid on the Industrial dis
tress resulting from the inability OF the
Porto Ricans to market their goods, ow-
Ing TO the withdrawal OF the Spanish
market, which was their former reliance.
and TO our own tariff. The secretary saws
II is essential that Porto Rico should re-
ceive substantially the same treatment at
our hands MS she received from Spain
while colony and that the markets OF
the United States should be opened to
her as were the markets Of Spain and
Cuba before the transfer OF allegiance
Concerning Cuba, the report says the
control which We are exercising in trust
for the people OF Cuba should not and
OF course. will not be continued any
longer than is necessary 10 enable the
people TO establish suitable government,
TO which the control shall be transferred
which shall really represent the people of
Cuba and be able to maintain order and
discharge international obligations That