The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-05-26
AMERICANS DIVIDED.
Commission Differ as to Wis
dom of More Negotiations.
CONFERENCE On AGAIN TODAY
Prof. SchArman Drew Up a List of Pro-
posab which the President of the Fill
pinc Commission Admitted Were Lib.
eraa-Miiitary Operations Go On.

bes of the United States Philippine
commission and the representatives Of
the Filipinos continues.
The military and civil elements of the
American commission differ regarding
ences, the former adhering to their
original demand for the unconditional
surrender of the insurgents.
The Filipino commissioners who
arrived at Manila on Saturday to me-
gotiate with the United States COM
missioners held a conference Monday
morning with Messrs. Schurman, Wor-
cester and Denby. They say that they are
without power to bind the so-called
Filipino government in any particular,
and can only refer any results Of the
present negotiations to Aguinaldo.
MANILA, May 23.-Prof. Schurman,
head of the United States Philippine
commission, submitted the following
written propositions to the Filipinos:
"While the final decision as to the
form of government is in the hands of
congress, the president, under his mill
tary powers, pending the action of con-
gress, stands ready to offer the follow
ing form of governments:
"a governor general, to be appointed
by the president; cabinet, to be ap-
pointed by the governor general; all the
judges to be appointed by the presi-
dent; the heads of departments and
judges to be either Americans or Fill
pinos, or both; and also a general ad-
visory council, its members to be chosen
by the people by form of suffrage to
be hereafter carefully determined upon.
"The president earnestly desires that
bloodshed cease and that the people of
the Philippines at an early date enjoy
the largest measure of government
compatible with peace and order.'
The United States commission pre-
pared the scheme and the president
cabled his approval of the form of the
document.
The Filipinos made no definite PROPOSE
ton, except for a cessation of hostili-
ties until they can present the question
of peace to the people. Prof. Schurman
told the Filipinos they had no means of
gathering the people together as the
Americans control most of the ports.
He also reminded them that liberal
form of government was offered them
and pointed out that it was better than
the conditions existing under Spanish
rule
Gozaga, president of the Filipino com.
mission, replied that nothing could be
worse than Spanish rule and admitted
that the form of government proposed
was liberal.
The civilian members of the Filipino
commission declined to cooperate with
the other member of that commission,
as the former considered Aguinaldo's
latest demand to be preposterous, after
Major General Otis refusal of an ar
mistice, referring to his wish for time
in order to consult the Filipino con.
gress.
After conference today with the
United States commissioners the Fill
pino commissioners will lunch with
Prof. Schurman and will afterward
visit the vessels composing the Ameri-
can feet
Spite of the presence of the Filipino
commissioners in Manila, the military
operations continued without unabated
vigor.
The visitors were apparently ignorant
or the true conditions of affairs here.
Upon their arrival they were imme.
diately inundated with invitations Gov
ering both day and night and expressed
surprise at the condition of affairs
within our lines. They had been led to
believe that everything was chaotic and
are delighted at the reception accorded
them.
Reports received from persons who
had arrived from the interior indicated
that no troops were left in the northern
provinces. They were all drafted south
after the outbreak of war. The villages
on the west coast were almost deserted
and the llocanos especially were desir-
GUS Of joining the Americans, if only
for the purpose Of crushing the Tagalos.
Many natives of the Benguot and Ilocis
said that if the Americans had not ar.
q rived civil war would necessarily have
ensued, owing 10 the friction between
the Tagalos and the inhabitants of other
provinces.
1t was said the only Filipino troops
left were 1000 men under General
Luna at Tarlec and about 1000 under
General Pho del Pillar. Even these were
said to be demoralized and short of arms
and supplies. Many Of their rifles We're
declared to be disabled, and the Fill
pinos were unable to repair them owing
to the lack of mechanics and materials
for so doing.
A coasting steamer which arrived re-
ported that the Spanish garrison AT
Zamboanga, Island of Mindanao, was
held by the rebels in much the same
manner as the Americans held them
while they were in the vicinity of Ma
mia. Every night the Spaniards were
subjected TO an Intellectual fusilade and,
it was said, if they were not soon re-
ieved they would be reduced to the con-
dition OF the Spanish garrison at noilo
previous to its evacuation.
WASHINGTON, May 33.-General Otis
reported the following deaths
May 7, Stephen Burdall, private, Com
pany M, Pirst California, dysentery;
18th, William Fahrenwald, private, D,
First South Dakota, dysentery; 14th,
John b. Elliott, private, Il, Twentieth
infantry, typhoid; John Corbett, pri-
vate, Twenty second infantry, typhoid;
10th, Herbert l.. Kesler, private, O,
Thirteenth Minnesota, diphtheria; Will
lam Hast corporal. III, Fourth infantry,
nephritis; nth, Christof Lost, G., Twen-
tieth infantry, suicide; Frank Nassau
rex second lieutenant, X, Seventeenth