The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-05-01
BACK TO LUNA.
Filipino Representatives Sent to
Manila For Conference
With Otis
Have Returned With the Answer
of the American Com
mander.
Recognition ofTheir Congress De-
MED, But a General Amnesty
Promised.
Generally Believed They Will Re
turn With Fresh Proposals
From Luna.

MANILA, May Id p. m.-lhe con-
ference between General Otis and
Colonel Manuel Argueleses and Lieu
tenant Jose Bernal who came from |
General Luna under flag of truce to !
ask for cessation hostilities, was fruit |
less. 1t is understood that the Filipino
commissioners were given the terms
upon which the Americans will consent
to negotiate. The Filipinos admit that
they have been defeated, and it is ex-
pected that they will return with fresh
proposals from General Luna.
The envoys from General Luna were
very Hospitality treated by General Otis,
who provided them with house and
with guard and permitted them to
visit friends here Returning to the
palace the envoys saw an illustration OF
American resources. A long train OF
wagons and pack mules was just start
ing with provisions for General Lawton,
who has reached Marunco.
| Conference Was Long.
| The conference at the palace lasted
three hours, Mr.. Jacob q. Schurman of
the United States commission attend
ing, and Admiral Dewey dropped in for
an hour. The discussion was mostly
between General Otis and Colonel Ar
gueleses. who had been selected for the
mission by General Luna because he
had known General Otis. Colonel Ar
!, gueleses served on the Filipino commits
sion which met the American authori-
ties before the war in an endeavor to
smooth over the impending trouble.
Mr.. Schurman emerged from the
palace between the shock haired. half
savage looking emissaries, and the three
drove unattended to the Office of the
United States Philippine commission.
where they talked informally for about
an hour. Manila is divided between
two opinions. the majority believing
that the Filipinos desire peace. while
Others think they are sparring for time
in which to rehabilitate their demoral-
lied army. The latter opinion gained
color from the fact that reinforcements
have been sent to the south, opposite
{ the American lines.
Colonel Argueleses, who is lawyer
splendidly illustrated the Malay subtlety
at words. While he declared. with ap
. parent frankness, that the Filipino lead
. ers wanted chance to give up the
, struggle gracefully, through congress
instead of surrendering ignominiousiy
| he asked for fortnight's ar1nistice 81
5 that the congress might be summoned
I on May |. he endeavored to commit tn
. Americans TO greater concessions, an,
wanted terms guaranteed by treaty
He was told that recognition of the Fill
ipino government was impossible, an
9 be was given to understand that writ
: ten order of amnesty for all insurgent
i was the utmost that could be given
5 Colonel Argueleses argued that Spai
had given similar guarantees and broke
y them, and he laid much stress on tn
: Spaniards honor.
Want to Retire With Honor.
He persistently declared that the Fill
pinos must be permitted to retire wit
honor. In conversation with Mr.. Schu
man. Colonel Argueleses revived I'll
5: question of independence and was r.
Q ferred to the statement in the comml
1t sioners' proclamation that the Filipino
y would be given an increasing measul
!. of self-government, as soon as the
s nroyed themselves worthy of it. NJ
s Schur,nan warned Argueleses that Il
longer war was wsged and the more we
killed. the stronger would be the al
mosities hindering an amicable co-ope
atom between the peoples for the pro
perity Of the islands. Ill ;,
The insurgents have an insurrecti'
On their own hands, tho. Macabebe
traditional foes of the Tagals, are risir
IN tho north, while the burden of tho
aands Of hungry and discontented pc
nle who fled before the American arm
and who are camping behind the Fl
nino lines, multiplies the troubles OF t