The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-09-14
FROM TIE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Correspondence to The Coa6NuNwEALTH,)

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. II, '99.
A sequel to the recent Ground rob.
bin" of the newspaper correspondents
against the censorship established by
General Otis, appeared yesterday. It
came In the form of long private let
ter from r. NJ. Collins, the Associated
Press correspondent in the Philippines,
| addressed to the general manager of
that institution, in reply to his request
for all the facts of the trouble between
the reporters and the general CON-
manding. This letter was not intend
ed for publication but 1t got into print.
Its contents created general discussion
among officials in Washington.
Mr.. Collins reviews at great length
the rigid suppression of news by
Otis, and states In substance that no
facts we're permitted to be sent to the
United States that indicated anything
favorable to the Filipinos, or, as Mr..
Collins expresses it, Otis told him the
orders were "to let nothing go that can
hurt the administration" He adds
that dispatches of the correspondents
have been altered, and often rewritten
substantially by Otis, until the report
ers were made to serve as mechanical
mouthpleces to glo1ify that officer and
his operations; and when the men de-
;ided they would no longer be parties
the deception OF their American
eafier-, Otis threatened to court-tnar-
tial them: only changing this inten-
lion when advised to do SO by General
Bates.
The publication of this letter has
added to the general admission that
Otis Is man unfit for conducting the
and the statement is made
On good authority that he will be re-
lieved as soon as the fall operations are
Merritt and Miles both are
IS likely to succeed him.
The friends OF these officers are advis-
ing them not to go unless ordered.
They believe that nothing but disap-
pOlntment would result, and that their
populations will suffer by the unfor-
innate situation confronting them.
Army officers still maintain that any
commanding officer runs great risk of
alllng short of expectations by under
ak1ng to restore order with the army
low provided. General Miles, however,
leslres to take up the work, and it is
luite probable that he will be permitted
o 60.
Congressman Meyer, of Louisiana,
Vho is strong gold man, although a
Democrat, and frequently knows the $
'lans of the Republican administration,
> authority for the statement that
here probably will be an extra session
+ Congress. to be called in November.
General Meyer states that he gets this
from man always famil- I
ar with the Presidents policies and
=
1t is explained that the extra session | i
ill be called mainly for the purpose S
considering form of government for !
uba. 1t is so we'll known that the
iscnssion Of Cuban affairs must lead =
ito strong and protracted debate of b
1e Philippines as we'll, and lncldently
cry bitter denunclation of the policy {
imperialism, that many congressman
Oubt tina: 1t will be called.
Senator Beverage, of Indiana, visit a
the white house, at the request of -
,e President, and for three hours ex- a
lalned the result of his recent visit to 8
le Philippines. Every effort has been 81
lade to interview the Senator upon q
lis subject. but he has declined to ex- s,
ress his opinions. A friend OF the u
snator, however, is authority for the IL
atement that he is very doubtful t;
bout the speedy solution of the East ~
n troubles, and that he convinced :;
le President of the serious nature of is
10 problem before our army. L
In connection with this it ia stated :,
so that the administration now is in
Ined to prefer larger concessions to
guinaldo. including virtually al
rough not nominally free and indie
'ndent home government, only the
'yerelgnty of the United States and
recognition CT the Filiplnos belngI
sisted upon. b
A st. Louis Congressman, who re- =
rned to this city yesterday from an +,
Etended tour in Europe, said eve 81
lnHAg + ~ i i