Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-07
STAR TO FREEDOMS CROWN
First Autonomous Government of Filipinos
Established at Bacolor.
RtVERlN0 INSTALLED AS GOVERNOR
Elections Were Held October ., at
witch over Five Thousand Votes
Were Cnst and There Were
Forty Candidates for once.

MANILA, Nov 6.-11;15 p. mat Baco-
lor, island OF Negros, the first autonomous
government of the Filipnos was established
today. General Smith, governor of the
island OF Negros, administered the oath oi
office to the judge Of the supreme court
who in turn swoTe in the governor, three
judges, councilmen, auditor and secretary
of the interior. The natives OF the entire
island attended the ceremonies.
Three days feasting will follow, in cele-
bratlon of the new government, and the first
anniversary of the surrender Of the Span
iards to the Negros revolutionists, ending
with a ball in the government house to-
night. American flags are displayed in the
village. The celebration consisted of horse
racing and other sports, music, religious
functions and an illumination. The ball
tonight attracted the wives OF the wealthy
planters and there was as great display OF
rich costumes and jewels as would be seen
at similar affaiy in America and Europe.
Elections were held october 2, the number
of votes cast being 5,42S. There were forty
candidates for the various offices. Melecio
Reverino was elected governor. receiving
1905 votes; Senor Geime received LII
votes. Suffrage was determined by prop
erty qualifications and ability to read and
write
Colonel Miner welcomed the officials on
behalf of the United States. In the course
of his remarks he said:
"Negros leads in the van of civil gov
ernment in the Philippines. Your honor
lies in adding a new star to freedoms
flag
General Smith, during a speech, said
your future promises as brightly as
Japan's, which today is recognized as among
the civilized nations of the world"
Senor Severino, in replying, said the best
thing for the future of Negros was the con-
tinuance of close relations with the United
States.
General Smith then announced the grant
ing of freedom to the political prisoners in
commemoration of the event.
General Hughes in command at Iloilo,
rendered congratulatory speech over the
eastern cable from that place
General Smith in an interview remarked
that it was Of the utmost Importance that
the Filipinos should be taught to recognize
the sovereignty of the United States.
"The gravest danger" he said, threaten
ing peaceful administration is intrigue
among the insuar politicians" and he de-
clared that the United States government
must for years keep control Of the Philip
pines to prevent such conditions.
The members of the Sixth infantry, which
is divided in thirty garrsons throughout
the island Of Negros, are undergoing great
hardships.
recently organized revolutionary move
ment has been discovered in northern Ne
gros and the leaders have been forced to
withdraw to Panay. number of bandits,
under the leadership of Papa Isio religious
charlatan, have been driven into the noun
tains, but it is expected they will give more
trouble.
force of $50 native soldiers armed with
Springfield rifles are helping the Americans
and are said to be valuable as scouts.
General Lawton's operations have been
temporarily suspended on account Of heavy
rain. The country around Cabanatuan is
flooded. The water has begun falling rap
idly and probably the country in that sec
tion will soon resume its normal condi-
tions.