Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-05-25
AUTONOMY WANTED.
Some of the Filipino Commissioners
Oppose Independence.
WASHINGTON WAITING FOR NEWS,
The Belief Expressed That No Immediate
Results May Come OF the Meeting with
the Commissioners "A Conference
Held This Morning.

Manila, May 22.-The Filipino com
missioners, Gen. Gregorlo del Pillar
Lieut.. Col. Alberto Barretto, Maj
Zealeita and Senior Gracio Conzaga
with their families, spent Sunday IN
visiting friends in Manila and conferred
with Senores Florento Torres, Pablo
Ocampo and Teodore Yanco, the mem
bers of the local Filipino association,
who will participate in the meetings
with the American commission. Senior
Torres was a member of Aguinaldo's
commission before the war. He OPP
poses independence and favors au-
tonomy and he has been most inhuen-
tial in persuading the followers OF
Aguinaldo to make the present adj
vances. Autonomy is the burden of
the talk of the Flipinos and it is
thought that the kind they wish for
would be little different from the
scheme of an American protectorate
which they talked Of before the war.
Senior Palermo, who has succeeded
the rreconcilable Mabini as president
of the Filipino so-called cabinet, is a
student and a writer of ability. He
once drew up a plan of autonomy
under Spain which the Spanish govern
ment promised to adopt, there then
being a troublesome rebellion on foot.
The American commissioners, in study
ing the question of the Philippine
government, have found several good
points in this scheme. Palermo is now
the strong man in Aguinaldo's party.
all the moneyed leaders of the insur-
recton see that it is hopeless and are
anxious for peace. Those WHO want
money think they may profit by haras-
sing the Americans while longer. On
the suggestion of Mr.. Schurman, pres
ident of the American commission, the
local Filipino peace party has started a
newspaper.
Maj. Hobbies expedition to open com
munication with Gen. Lawton has oc-
cupied Arayat, about seven miles
beyond Candaba, on the RIO Grande.
following the course Of the stream.
No insurgents were found there and
the Pampaganas along the river are
friendly. Last Friday Maj. Kobbe
took Santa Ana, about six miles north
east Of San Fernandino on the road to
San Isidro. A priest met the expedi-
ton with white flag. Delegations
from San Nicolas and Santiago, small
villages just south of Arayat, came to
him with the news that 200 insurgents,
who had been holding both places, had
withdrawn. They invited the Ameri-
cans to enter and as the members of
the expedition marched in the church |
bells were rung und the timid natives
who had fled nocked back.
WASHINGTON WAITING FOR NEWS.
Washington, May 2a.-There was
lack of news in official quarters yester-
day from Gen, Otis in Manila. The
president and war department officials
are awaiting with much interest adj
vices expected to-day from Gen. Otis
the outcome of the meeting
between the commissions representing
The United States and Aguinaldo,
though the belief expressed by the
American commander at Manila that
the insurgents want an armistice as a
precedent to treating for
)eace leads to the belief that no imme-
late results may come of the meeting.
COMMISSIONERS ON ROTH SIDES CONFER.
Manila, May 22-The Filipino COM
who arrived here on Satur-
lay to negotiate with the United States
commissioners, had a conference this
with Messrs. Schurman,
Worcester and DENLY. They say that
hey are without power to bind the so-
allied Filipino government in any par
ocular and can only refer any results
II the present negotiations to Agui-
aldo.
A REST FOR THE NEBRAsKANs.
Manila, May 2s.-The Nebraska regi-
nent marched from San Fernando to
,alumpit Saturday for a 80 days rest
n Manila. This regiment numbers
bout 800 weather beaten veterans.
Two of the companies are mere squads
nd their battered canteens and shiny
lothes show unmistakable marks Of
ough campaigning; but the soldiers
re happy.