The record-union., 1899-06-24
Recognizes the Necessity Of Reinforcing
Oils.
Ten Complete Regiments Likely to
:. be Formed-Litt1e Probability
of a Formal Call for Volunteers
and State Organizations Will
Not be Accepted-Enough Men
Can be Obtained by Recruiting.

President Mckinley will authorize the
enlistment of additional men for the
Philippines when he returns to Wash
ington. This is the understanding Of
well informed War Department Off
Gals. The Administration has at last
come to recognize the necessity of re-
inforcing General Otis command. 1t
Is apparent that some department Of
ficials are figuring on the ACCESSIBILITY
of enlisting sufficient men to form ten
complete regiments.
Acting Secretary of War Meiklejohn
said if the President authorized addi
tional men, the number would be de-
rtermined after a consultation with
General Otis. 1t would not be surpris-
ing We're the department to hear from
General Otis before the return of the
President and that the latter may be
supplied with the necessary informa-
ton in order to take immediate action.
In any event. said Mr.. Meiklejohn,
there is little probability of formal
call for volunteers. State organizations
will not be accepted, although there
are many applications on file from them
for muster in and dispatched to the
Philippines. The President, I think,
authorized the department to direct its
recruiting officers to make enlistment
and am confident that men can be OBJ
tanned in such numbers as to form a
complete organization and be ready
for service with General Otis during
the fall months"
Should the President authorize the
formation of ten regiments recruiting
officers will have to obtain ID, 100 men
to fill them. At least 1000 men will
be required for the three volunteer or
CARNATIONS which General Otis has au-
thority to organize, making about 90
Oo0 of the 35,OO0 men of the provisional
army. the enlistment of which is au-
thorized by law.
President McKinley's policy in re-
gard to the future form of government
for the Philippines and Cuba is still
underlined, but regardless of what fu-
ture Developments may bring forth as
to our attitude toward those islan he
and the members of the Cabinet fully
appreciate that the military govern
ments in all of our dependencies must
give way to civil government as speed
lily as possible. Preliminary to the es-
Enlistment of civil government the
Cabinet has concluded that there should
be new civil department, with a
cabinet officer at its, head to inaug-
urate and have control Of the new gov
ernments, will be sooner or later
formed. A Cabinet officer thus ex-
plains the necessity for such a depart
ment
At the present time there is no CEN
trail head for the considerations Of the
multifarious questions constantly aris-
ing in connection with Cuba Porto
Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines The
War Department has control of these
matters now, but there are many ques-
tlons-financial, administrative Judi
cial, commercial and diplomatic-which
our army officers are not competent to
deal With and ought not to be required
to pass upon. As matters go now,
there is a disposition to shift from one
department to another and from one
bureau to another, to escape RESPONSE
bility for settling intricate and embar-
RAISING questions
A territorial form of government for
Porto Rico and Hawaii has already
been agreed upon and there is little
doubt that the next Congress Will pass
measures in this direction. The Presi-
dent told friend the other day that he
favored government for Porto Rico
similar to that of Arizona and that If
1t were in his power he would appoint
Civil Governor for Porto Rico at
once without waiting for legislation by
Congre se.
As to Cuba. it will be impossible to
have any other form of Government
than the present military one until the
Ieop!s { f the island have taken steps
for the folmation of civil Government
which the United States can recognize
From the little progress that Is being
made in this direction, we are Begin
ming to doubt if affairs will so shape
themselves in Cuba as to enable the
President at the coming session of Con-
gress to intelligenty outline a future
policy for the United States to pursue.
The island is now ripe for civil gov
eminent. But how is it to be appliede
The Presidents hands are tied. I'm
der the Act of Congress he is required
after the 'pacificaticn' of the island, to
leave the Government and control of
the island to it's people. 1t has been
held that the President has no legis-
lative authority to keep military forces
in Cuba after the treaty of peace was
ratified. but the forces have been held
there and the President, If necessary
can take the technical ground that the
'pacification' of the island will not be
compete until there is a stable and in
dependent. government of the people
there as contemplated by the reso,u-
ton adopted by Congress. Thus you
sce the President must wait under the
terms of the Act of Congress for the
people of the islands to establish a sta
bic government which he can recognize
1t is high time that people We're getting
together in convention for the purpose
of drawing up a Constitution prelimin-
airy to a popular vote as to the kind
of government they war;. Until this
is done and a stable Government is
elected. or the people of The islands have
voted for annexation to the United
States, or the American Congress has
directed otherwise. the President will
be constrained to maintain a military
government in Cuba.
Though the War Department will, in
all proba bility, remain in NOM
inal control of Cuba for some time TO
come. there will be many questions aris-
ing that ought to be passed upon by
the proposed new colonial department.
The same may be said OF the Philip
pines. The collection and distribution
of the revenue Of those islands, aggre-
eating already So, O00Q00 a month in the
two places. ought to go into the hands