Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-10-25
ARETuRNINc SOLDIER
Says tho Bottom wilt Soon Drop Out
From tho Philippine Expansion
Program When the True Situa-
ton Becomes Known.

From the Philippine Expansion
Program When the True situa-
ton Becomes Known.
MOST EMPHATIC DEcLAR.
ALTON AGAINST the WAR.
More Honorable to Make tho Natives
aPresent Of Our Claims to
tho Islands.
The little crowd of imperialistic
shouters of Willmar have received q
body-blow. Their spirit is broken,
and while they may keep up half
hearted pretense Of standing by the
Presidents Philippine expansion pol
icy, it is pretty certain that it will re-
quire an effort to do so and the sup
port will not be of the most enthusi-
astic order. They had pretended to
disbelieve the authenticity of all the
letters which the soldiers sent home,
and one Henry Feig, whose mission it
Is to be the mouthpiece of the outfit,
saw fit to attack Gov. Lind for the
part he played in making known the
wishes of the soldier boys. Feig has
no doubt held of his comment on this
matter in the hope that the returning
soldiers would take his view of the
matter, but he is doomed to disap-
pointment and it will be interesting to
see how he will crawl out of the small
hole into which he has crowded him
self.
Willmar had three boys in the 18th
regiment, Chris. Holland, Harry L.
Beckjord and Geo. A. Smith. Mr..
Holland was probably one of the
youngest men in the regiment, being
less than eighteen years of age at this
time. While so young he still has
formed decided opinions upon the war
and the status of the Filipinos, and
talks freely of the matter. He says
that money could not hire him to go
back to the islands to live, speaks ap-
provingly of Colonel Ames, and
thinks the Filipinos have not been
treated fairly. He carries a couple of
small scars from bullets which hit him
when on duty, but his appearance has
been improved by the training and
bearing of a soldier. Chris. expects
to locate in California, after a visit
at his old home here.
Messrs. Beckjord and Smith were
members of Co. G, and were chums
together. Mr.. Beckjord had a posi-
ton in the superintendent's Office of
the Great Northern at Willmar when
he enlisted, and will now take po-
sition at St. Paul. Being of quiet
disposition he has not so far had
much to say, preferring evidently to
allow Mr.. Smith to do the talking.
Geo. A. Smith is an energetic and
outspoken young man, possessing a
keen intellect and being OF an inquir-
ing turn of mind. He formerly held
the position of stenographer in the
R. R. Superintendent Office at Will
mar, later launched the Willmar
School of Shorthand & Business, and
had barely taken position at Lari-
more, N. D., when the war with Spain
broke out, and he hastend to enlist in
the 18th Minnesota regiment. He had
considerable experience as newspa-
per correspondent and advertis ing SOL
icitor, and he had no sooner arrived
ae Manila, than he secured leave and
launched the first English newspaper
at Manila, the American Soldier, uti-
lizing one of the Spanish printing
outfits for that purpose Later he
sold the paper at a handsome profit,
returned to the ranks and participated
in all the engagements with his regi-
ment. He spent six weeks on the is
land of Cebu, and during his stay in
the Philippines has acquired a fund
of information which he expects to
use in magazine articles and articles
for newspapers. He gladly consented
to an interview for the W1LLMAR
TRIBUNE, the substance of which we
give herewith.
We asked Mr.. Smith what the causes
were which led to the beginning of
hostilities.
Mr.. Smith said, 1.-THE Spaniards
treated the Filippinos white compared
with what the Americans did," He
then went on to particularize the taxes
and increased restrictions which cre-
ated the hostile spirit. AS an instance
he mentioned that the native cab
drivers in Manila were required to
burn two candles where before they
burned one, and as their gross earn
ings did not exceed six cents an hour
the small matter was quite an item to
them, and when they asked for in
creased fees, they were refused them,
and serious trouble arose. Every
Spanish tax was collected, and a
great number of other taxes were ad-
ded. Every dealer and restaurant,
however small and smoky, were taxed,
while their hours for business were
restricted. A Filipino was never
known to drink to excess. A drunk
native was thing unheard of. New
ertheless they have drink, ''beno, u
brewed principally from rice, resemb-
ling absinthe, which they are very