Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-23
Election Result a Fatal Glow to the
Philippine Insurrection.
aGGY'S FOLLOWERS WILL DESERT
Declaration by Congress .hat We Intend
to Keep the Archipelago viii Ire.
suit in Ending tilc Rebellion
i'll Month OF December.

an almost fatal blow to the insurrec-
ton in the Philippines" said Charles
DENLY, of the Philippines commission.
For weeks before left Manila the
insurgents were distributing in Manila
aud all the important cities of Luzon
circulars in which the natives were as
sured that the people of the United
States We're with them in their strug-
gle for Independence, that the war was
an administration war. The news of
the Endorsement of the presidents
Philippine policy will DE a crushing
blow to the insurgeat cause. Thous-
ands who have been afraid ,tnt .Aeuin-
aldo would be recognized by the Unit
ed States have been prevented by that
reason from declaring their friendship
ITO the American administration. Now
tiley will begin tc flock over. To hold
his followers a little longer Aguinaldo
will dombtless declare that the cleo
lions were not decisive, and that the
filipinos can depend upon congress to
uphold their claims TO Independence.
In my Judgment, congress, al the
earliest possible date, ough; to make
positive declaration of our intentions
with respect TO the Philippines. If
this is done the instruction, | am con.
tident, viii be ended in December.
Aguinaldo's army. or al least the lars-
est part of it. will surrender at once,
and the only trouble we will then have
will be with brigands. Doubtless there
will be more or less of that for some
time. But once the American admins
istration4 is thoroughly established
throughout she islands, that, TOO, can
be easily broken up
There is Il strong Impression in adj
ministration circles that President Me
Kinley, in view of the support given
his course by Tuesdays result, will
unequiyocally declare in his message
for action by congress which will re-
move all doubts as to the intention OF
the United States TO maintain and ex-
ercise its sovereignty over the Philip
pine group. Increased vigor in. the
campaign against the insurgents,
meantime, will be insisted upon by the
president.
La1e mail advices received at the war
department from the Philippines show
that the long-looked-for advance of the
left wing of the north line has at last
taken place, with the result that the
town of Porac and lis surrounding ter
ritory are in the hands of the Ameri-
cans. This result was accomplished
by three distinct operations. by which
the left of the line was brought paral-
lei to the right, which rested on the
town of Angeles. Two distinct col
nmns moved toward the town of Po-
rae itself, but merged into one before
reaching their objective point. The
advance of Gen. MacArthur's column
was running fight from the start.
The resistance, however, was feeble,
and the only delay was occasioned in
taking the artillery across the streams
on the line of march. Porac, while
very well intrenched, was very. poorly
defended. The artillery was engaged
briefly and the town was taken with
practically no determined fighting on
the part of the insurgents.
The rate of exchange in Manila re-
Gently jumped up with rapidity that
caused somewhat of sensation, on the
market Heretofore merchants and
Others who had American gold in ex-
change for Mexican, or Filipino, silver
have been a'ble to secure only $2.0s,
and at one time the banks threatened
TO pay less than So for one American
dollar. At that time Maj Chas. Nc
Clure stepped in and protected the SOL
diers, who are paid in gold. by announ-
cling that his office would exchange
2 pesos for one gold, silver or pa
per American dollar. This enabled the
merchants to contiue the exchange of
two for one, as formerly, and the rate
of exchange again resumed its normal
condition at the banks. Mai. Mcclure
took up the question with the authori-
ties at Washington, and to such adj
vantage that the soldiers and the mer-
chants were enabled to receive $2.05
Mexican for one American dollar,
whether paper, gold or silver. Later
$2.06 was paid, with every indication
that the rate would rise to $2.O7. AS
result of the efforts of Mai. Mcclure
the private soldier in the field is now
able to exchange his monthly pay of
$3.50 American for $32.13 Mexican or
Filipino money, where formerly he re-
ceived but $31.50.
Word comes from Manila of the pro-
motion of First Lieut.. William Brook,
OF the 4th Cavalry, to be Major in the
46th Infantry, and First Lieut. Rober.
- AoSNSlA, VI tllC Ilu SdNdlTy, son OIL
# Senator w. j. Sewell, of New Jersey,
to be a Captain and quartermaster.
Mail adyices to the War Department
state that native with a commission
as Lieutenant Colonel in the insurgent
army has been captured in Manila.
The prisoner has credentials from
Aguinalda to collect taxes from the in
habitants OF Manila, and had been do
ing so and RENTING the money to the
rebel commander. No mention of this
occurrence has appeared in the press
dispatches. 1t is also stated that Major
I Thompson, of the signal corps, has
z been relieved from his position of press
censor, and that he has been suppressed
ed by a member of Gen. Otis staff.
A rich coal vein has been struck al
depth of less than 100 feet at the lit
tie town of Savannah in Davis county.