The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
HAS NOEPO w Err TO ACT
Filipino Peace Commission Must
Report to Aguinaldo.


Manila anil May 22.-Maj. Gen. Otis has
declined to recognize the rebels to the
extent OF agreeing to an armistice, but
he has notified the American commando
ers to efrain temporarily from agrees
slve action. Thus he is in a position to
resume hostilities at any time. This
Will defeat,any subterfuge to gain time,
which would not be the case if the gen
eral agreed to an armistice. The Fill
plnos are so deceptive that people hest
tate to credit with good faith their
latest overtures. But more attention is
now paid to them than was paid to their
previous advances. The Filipino COM
mission is acting under instructions
from 4: Afguiinaldo and the congress, but
tits possible that if peace is arranged
Gems. Luna and Pho del Pillar and their
followers will continue guerrilla war
fare, -'"+e"-.sN1aa>-'' ... ,t
Without Power to Act.
Manila, May %, II a. m.-The Filipino
commissioners, who arrived here on
Saturday to negotiate with the United
States commissioners, held confer
ence: this (Monday) morning with
Messrs. Schurman, Worcester and Den
by. They say they are without power
to bind the so-called Filipino govern
1nent in any particular, and can only re.
fer any results of the present negotia-
tons to Aguinaldo.
Anxious to Secure Autonomy.
Manila, May 22.-The Filipino com.
missioners, Gen. Gregorio del Pillar
Lieut.. Col. Alberto Barretto, Maj
Tealeita and Senior Gracio Gonzaga
with their families, spent Sunday in Wis.
lting friends in Manila, and conferred
with Seniors Florentino Torres, Pablo
Ocampo and Theodore :Yanco, the mem.
bers of the local Filipino association
who will participate in the meetings
with the American commissioners.
Senior Torres was member Of Aguin.
aldo's commission before the war. He
opposes independence and favors au
tonomy, and he has been the most in.
f1uential in persuading the followers Of
Aguinaldo to make the present ad
vances. Autonomy is the burden of the
talk of the Filipinos, 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
irreconcilable Mabini as president OF
the Filipino so-called cabinet, is a stu.
dent and writer of ability. He once
drew up plan of autonomy under
Spain, which the Spanish government
promised to adopt. there then being q
troublesome rebellion on foot. The
American commissioners, in studying
the question Of 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.
rection see that it is hopeless, and are
anxious for peace. Those who want
money think they may profit by
harassing the Americans awhile longer
>. -. ... Await News from Otis.
Washington, May 22.-There was a
lack of news in official quarters Sun
day from both Gen. Otis at Manila or
Gen. Brooke at Havana. The president
and war department officials are await
ing with much interest advices expect.
ed to-day from Gen. Otis respecting
the outcome of the meeting between
the commissions representing the
United States and Aguinaldo, though
the belief is expressed by the American
commander at Manila that the insur-
gents want an armistice as condition
precedent to treating for peace leads to
the belief that no immediate results
may come of the meeting.